I became the Japanese husband of a foreign wife 2 and a half years ago. And I was surprised when I saw my Juminhyo after marriage, because my wife wasn't listed there. Every one of my Japanese friends were surprised when they heard that, too.

In my Juminhyo I am single, and of course I want to list my wife's name on my Juminhyo, so I was surprised that there are some husbands (and children) who don't care that they are single or Fushi-Katei (family without mother) in their Juminhyo.

The 14th Amendment of the Japanese Constitution says that all Japanese are equal. I have equal rights to list my wife's name on my Juminhyo, or at least I have equal rights to ask that, because I'm Japanese. I can try lessen inequities or lessen any discrimination toward other citizens in MY country, and my wife can too, because my wife and I are Isshin-Dotai (same mind same body.) My wife works hard on this Juminhyo issue for herself and for her Japanese husband, too. I think that disturbing what people try hard at produces nothing. My wife is not insensitive to discrimination (as some people who don't seem to mind being discriminated against) so I'm proud of her.

One of our friends was hurt when a city officer said, "Apply for citizenship if you want to be listed on the Juminhyo" after she asked them to list her name in the Juminhyo Bikouran. (Comments section) I am surprised that there are some wives whose thinking is similar to that of the city official's.

I don't want to waste money, even if it costs only 300 yen (in my city it costs 350 yen) to pick up my wife's Gaikokujin Touroku Shomeisho. Instead of paying that, I can buy cake, and eat it too.

In a democratic society, the government isn't the ruler, the people are. And people can improve their lives and government by being able to ask WHY and by being able to get a reasonable answer to their questions. That legal, guaranteed asking and answering process is a very basic and important method for constructing and keeping a democratic society. Certainly Western people ask WHY a lot, and on the other hand many Japanese don't. It seems to be clear which is more positive. I hate the idea that the Japanese government "allows" foreign spouses to stay in Japan, so therefore those foreigners have to obey all the rules and must not say anything, even if the rules are stupid.

What we are trying to do is list my wife's name on the BIKOURAN of my Juminhyo, as my spouse. "BIKOURAN" means just a COMMENT. I don't understand why only a small thing like a Comment is having your cake and eating it too. We don't ask for the same rights as Japanese citizens by this, but only for a little thing.

We'll continue to try to resolve this issue, until we succeed.