A Japanese opposition leader born to a Taiwanese father and Japanese mother released legal documents Tuesday to prove she only has Japanese nationality. Renho Murata, head of the Democratic Party, said she released the private documents to show she had renounced her earlier Taiwanese citizenship. Public…
A Japanese opposition leader born to a Taiwanese father and Japanese mother released legal documents Tuesday to prove she only has Japanese nationality.
Renho Murata, head of the Democratic Party, said she released the private documents to show she had renounced her earlier Taiwanese citizenship. Public doubts over her status, despite her repeated explanations, have been blamed for her party’s recent election loss in a country where there is strong pressure for conformity and an obsession with Japanese bloodlines.
“Family registration records involve an extremely high level of privacy and I’ve been cautious about disclosing them, ” Renho told a packed news conference at her headquarters. “But I’ve decided to release the documents as head of a political party whose accountability is more strongly required than an ordinary lawmaker.”
She also said she should show a good example as head of the leading opposition party that is criticizing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s lack of clarity in a series of recent scandals.
“I hope I’m the last person to have to make such disclosure, ” she said.
