# I'm turning Japanese permanently!
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-turning-japanese-permanently/393507
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [February 24, 2007, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-turning-japanese-permanently/393507 "2007-02-24T14:43:17Z")
**Posts on this page:** 16
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)
#### Post date: [February 26, 2007, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-turning-japanese-permanently/393507/21 "2007-02-26T04:47:07Z")
In all seriousness: if the Emperor walked into the room, what would you do?
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### Author:  [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)
#### Post date: [February 26, 2007, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-turning-japanese-permanently/393507/22 "2007-02-26T04:51:54Z")
[QUOTE=jovan]
That said, congratulations!
I’m planning on applying next year when my current visa is up for renewal.
[/QUOTE]
Thanks!
Good luck on applying next year, although if you’re eligible now, I recommend applying now. That way, if the residency comes through before your visa expires, that’s one less trip to the immigration office. And depending where you are in Gifu, that could be significant.
I just got my registration card updated this morning and was a little let down. I’d heard they make a new card for permanent residents, but they just added a hand-written note to the back.
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### Author:  [@GomezK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GomezK)
#### Post date: [February 26, 2007, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-turning-japanese-permanently/393507/23 "2007-02-26T08:41:49Z")
If one wanted to relocate to Japan and had sufficient means from outside the country (royalties, investments etc.) can they sapply for some sort of long term stay permit?
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### Author:  [@Caractacus\_Pott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caractacus_Pott)
#### Post date: [February 26, 2007, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-turning-japanese-permanently/393507/24 "2007-02-26T12:57:43Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir]
In all seriousness: if the Emperor walked into the room, what would you do?
[/QUOTE]
I know this question wasn’t aimed at me, **Elendil** , but I would bow from the waist, then say “Merry Christmas.” The nationals around here think I’m Santa-san!
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### Author:  [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)
#### Post date: [February 26, 2007, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-turning-japanese-permanently/393507/25 "2007-02-26T13:27:22Z")
I don’t think I would want to live in Japan full time.
What with Godzilla always on a rampage over there.
Congrats!
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### Author:  [@Caractacus\_Pott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caractacus_Pott)
#### Post date: [February 26, 2007, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-turning-japanese-permanently/393507/26 "2007-02-26T14:44:09Z")
[QUOTE=Shirley Ujest]
I don’t think I would want to live in Japan full time.
What with Godzilla always on a rampage over there.
\
What? Godzilla? No one told me he’s HERE. At least that explains the other night when I looked out my 10th floor window and saw an eye looking right back at me! I thought I ate some bad sushi…
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### Author:  [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)
#### Post date: [February 26, 2007, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-turning-japanese-permanently/393507/27 "2007-02-26T14:45:14Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir]
In all seriousness: if the Emperor walked into the room, what would you do?
[/QUOTE]
While I’m turning Japanese? I’d ask if I had achieved Royal Crown Chinpoko Master, of course!
In seriousness, I haven’t the foggiest. From what I hear, the Imperial staff’s main job is to make sure nothing unexpected happens anywhere in his vicinity, so they probably brief everyone he’s going to meet ahead of time on exactly what to do and say.
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### Author:  [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)
#### Post date: [February 26, 2007, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-turning-japanese-permanently/393507/28 "2007-02-26T14:52:04Z")
Well, it wouldn’t be unexpected to _him_, but it might be to you.
I’m sure you wouldn’t diss him. But just how much _would_ you grovel, as a new Japanese citizen? 😉
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### Author:  [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)
#### Post date: [February 26, 2007, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-turning-japanese-permanently/393507/29 "2007-02-26T14:59:47Z")
[QUOTE=jovan]
Legally, there are only certain characters that can be used to write a name in the family register: 2230 kanji, hiragana and katana. The roman alphabet is not accepted.
[/QUOTE]
Dang. How razor-cool would you have to be to spell your name in katana? 😉
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### Author:  [@Cerowyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerowyn)
#### Post date: [February 26, 2007, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-turning-japanese-permanently/393507/30 "2007-02-26T16:37:34Z")
[QUOTE=Caractacus Pott]
What? Godzilla? No one told me he’s HERE. At least that explains the other night when I looked out my 10th floor window and saw an eye looking right back at me! I thought I ate some bad sushi…
[/QUOTE]
Are you in Tokyo, by chance? ‘Cause if you are, and are free on March 9, there’s a little get-together in Azabu-Juban goin’ on.
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### Author:  [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)
#### Post date: [February 26, 2007, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-turning-japanese-permanently/393507/31 "2007-02-26T17:11:02Z")
[QUOTE=Sublight]
Kinda already have. Most folks follow a pretty relaxed mix of Shinto and Buddhism, but my mother-in-law is one of the minority who’s serious about one over the other, and in her case it’s Shinto. So far, the primary tenet seems to be, “when in doubt, wash.”
[/QUOTE]
I thought that was judaism?
Congratulations 🙂
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### Author:  [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)
#### Post date: [February 26, 2007, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-turning-japanese-permanently/393507/32 "2007-02-26T17:17:39Z")
[QUOTE=Nava]
I thought that was judaism?
[/QUOTE]
I thought it was [Paul Gallico](http://www.paulgallico.info/jennie.html). 🙂
(_Jennie_ is one of my all-time favourite books. It’s the story of a boy who gets knocked unconscious and wakes up as a cat. After I read it, I wanted to be a cat so badly…
And then there was the day **Spoons** brought me back a copy of _Jennie_ from a used-book shop in Perth, Australia. The book has an honoured place on my bookshelves.)
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### Author:  [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2007, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-turning-japanese-permanently/393507/33 "2007-02-27T00:02:14Z")
[QUOTE=Lightray]
Dang. How razor-cool would you have to be to spell your name in katana? 😉
[/QUOTE]
I hear it’s mostly yakuza that do it nowadays.
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### Author:  [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2007, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-turning-japanese-permanently/393507/34 "2007-02-27T03:17:59Z")
I already know my name in romaji: Rikku
and katakana: リック
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### Author:  [@Caractacus\_Pott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caractacus_Pott)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2007, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-turning-japanese-permanently/393507/35 "2007-02-27T13:59:00Z")
[QUOTE=Cerowyn]
Are you in Tokyo, by chance? ‘Cause if you are, and are free on March 9, there’s a little get-together in Azabu-Juban goin’ on.
[/QUOTE]
**Cerowyn** ,
Thanks for the invite. I’m not in Tokyo but can take the Shinkhansen to the city. If this message thread is too public, please send the specifics to the e-mail address in my profile.
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### Author:  [@Cerowyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerowyn)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2007, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-turning-japanese-permanently/393507/36 "2007-02-27T16:04:14Z")
[QUOTE=Caractacus Pott]
**Cerowyn** ,
Thanks for the invite. I’m not in Tokyo but can take the Shinkhansen to the city. If this message thread is too public, please send the specifics to the e-mail address in my profile.
[/QUOTE]
T’ain’t no problem to post for all to see, but let’s go to [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=410200) rather than allowing me to continue my hijack.
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