Japan court upholds ban on dual citizenship

A Japanese court upheld a ban on dual citizenship on Thursday, rejecting a suit that challenged the measure's constitutionality and sought damages for those affected.

Japan is one of around 50 ­countries internationally which only ­permits its citizens to hold one nationality.

Under current rules, Japanese people who acquire another passport are asked to relinquish their Japanese citizenship, but in 2018 eight plaintiffs started legal proceedings, arguing the rule was unconstitutional.

One of them, Hitoshi Nogawa, has told reporters that being forced to give up his nationality was a "painful experience."

The plaintiffs are six men who have already obtained Swiss or Liechtenstein citizenship, and two Japanese men who want to obtain foreign citizenship without losing their Japanese passports, local media said.

They argued that the rule was a violation of the constitution's right to pursue happiness and protection of equality under the law. 

On Thursday, the Tokyo district court rejected their suit and request for damages, upholding the constitutionality of the rule.

The government argued there was no national interest in permitting multiple citizenships, Kyodo news agency reported.

The issue was thrust into the ­spotlight with the rise to fame of ­tennis star Naomi Osaka, who was born in Japan to a Japanese mother and ­Haitian father but raised in the US.

Osaka had dual citizenship but under Japanese law was technically required to choose one nationality when she turned 22, though ­authorities in Japan have been known to turn a blind eye to dual nationals in some circumstances.