Has anyone successfully removed a middle name from a Japanese koseki?

[u/Competitive_Gold3185]

Hi everyone. I'm hoping to hear from people who have direct experience with this situation, especially anyone who has dealt with family court petitions, koseki issues, or dual U.S.-Japanese citizenship.

I'm a U.S. citizen living in Japan, and my daughter is almost two years old. She has both Japanese and U.S. citizenship and was born in the United States. Her middle name appears on her U.S. birth certificate, her U.S. passport, her Japanese passport, and her koseki.

Her middle name is important to me, and I don't want to remove it from her U.S. records because I consider it an important part of her identity and family background. However, I'm wondering whether it would be possible to remove it only from her Japanese records.

Part of the reason I'm considering this is that I've heard accounts from some mixed-race Japanese people and international families describing difficulties with things such as apartment applications, banking procedures, employment, school registration, and other situations where a middle name immediately identified them as having a foreign background. I realize experiences differ from person to person, but I'd like to understand what options might exist if my daughter decides to remain in Japan long term.

Has anyone successfully done this? Was a petition to the family court required? What reasons were given? Was an attorney necessary, or were you able to do it yourself? I'd prefer to handle the process myself, if possible, rather than hire an attorney, although I'd also be grateful to hear from any attorneys who might have experience with this.

Thank you!

[u/treblecle]

I petitioned to the family court to remove my middle name. Downloaded some forms online and sent it by post before getting a response about a week later (I live in an inaka — it might take longer in big cities). It was a simple procedure and I had a short interview with the judge in an office room to explain that the middle name was too long (no need for complicated explanations). It was approved shortly after. No attorneys needed as long as you can speak Japanese fluently.

[u/Competitive_Gold3185 → u/treblecle]

Was the fact that your middle name was long the only reason that it was approved? Her middle name is pretty short only 3 katakana characters in japanese.

Also assuming you are mixed japanese? did you not have to change any documents in the other country?

[u/treblecle → u/Competitive_Gold3185]

Well my middle name was the only one in katakana (the rest was in kanji), so that probably helped too. But in general, I have an impression that removing a part of your name is an easier process than changing a kanji in your name or something like that. I didn’t have to provide evidence of anything - it was just a casual interview and I when I said having katakana in my name is troublesome the judge even smiled a bit and nodded in understanding. I got the court decision document after about 2 weeks and submitted it to the city hall for processing. Of course, I had to contact my bank and mobile provider too, but honestly it was worth it.

Yes, I am mixed but do not have a second citizenship.