Despite fears to the contrary, not one foreign intruder has been caught faking paternity in order to acquire citizenship here since the Nationality Law was revised and enacted in January, the Justice Ministry and National Police Agency told lawmakers Wednesday.
As far as the police know, a total of 73 foreigners applied for Japanese nationality between Jan. 5 and Monday, with 22 granted citizenship and the rest pending, a ministry official told a group of lawmakers at a hearing Wednesday in Tokyo.
The revised law allows children born out of wedlock to Japanese men and foreign women to obtain Japanese nationality if the father acknowledges paternity after birth.
The revision sparked heated debate at the Diet after concerns were raised that foreigners may try to obtain citizenship by falsely declaring paternity.