Japanese, ethnic group or nationality?

[Tsuwabuki]

I was thinking about this on the way home today... I am American, but that is not my ethnic group; my ethnic group is Irish Celt (and almost fully, I'm second generation Irish American, with any other genetics being found within the british isles). If I decided to emigrate from America to Japan (not that I would, this is hypothetical) and obtain citizenship, my ethnic group would still be Irish Celt, but my nationality would then be Japanese. Do you think I should be allowed to call myself Japanese? Or, going further, could I say "Watashi wa Nihonjin desu?" Or would I have to stick with whatever the word for Irish is, since my "people" are from Ireland, if we go by ethnic group.

 

[Tsuwabuki]

Bumping my own post to get rid of the Burbur crap.

But I add a question, does Jin refer to nationality or ethnic group?

 

[RockLee]

Bumping my own post to get rid of the Burbur crap.

But I add a question, does Jin refer to nationality or ethnic group?

nationality for instance berugijin, americajin,itariajin,doitsujin..etc..

 

[jet_dee]

I believe the Japanese themselves see "Japanese" to be a racial group, rather than a nationality, as Japanese-born foreigners will be expected to maintain their foreign nationality when asked "Doko kara kuni?/ What country are you from?"
I faced something that made my stomach turn slightly "Where are you from?"
"England"
"No, you're not"
"Yes (thought bubble: i f&&king am)"
"But your skin colour?"
"My family is indian"
"oh, so you are indian"
"well, technically yes and no....being born in england makes me english"
"So you are indian..... saaaaaaa"

Paraphrasing a little, but it's goddamn annoying anyhow. Stick with "Watashi wa airando jin desu" , it's the easiest way.