News Kumamoto postpones ordinance declaring foreign residents 'citizens'

Municipal authorities had planned to formally submit their proposal to revise the basic autonomy ordinance with symbolic changes aimed at encouraging foreigners to engage in more civic activities to a city assembly session on Feb. 20. But they abandoned it after receiving a flurry of written comments from hundreds of members of the public opposing the measure. "The revision would pose a problem in terms of Japan's national security at a time when the international situation is unstable," read one comment. "Only people with Japanese citizenship should get involved in local autonomy and civic activities," said another. Municipal officials said many of the negative views expressed toward the measure stem from misunderstanding of its intent. "We should not perplex or confuse citizens," Kumamoto Mayor Kazufumi Onishi said at a Feb. 13 news conference, explaining why the proposal is being shelved.

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