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アメリカ大使館にアメリカ人との婚姻についての資料を請求すると、このようなものがもらえるようです。
Marriage of Americans in Japan
All persons, including American citizens, who desire to marry in Japan must do so according to Japanese law. Marriage in Japan consists of a civil registration of marriage by the couple at a Japanese government office. This registration constitutes a legal marriage and is recognized as such throughout the United States. Religious ceremonies and ceremonies performed by fraternal and other similar organizations are not valid as legal marriages.
Diplomatic and consular officers cannot perform marriages. However, to register a marriage under Japanese law, foreign nationals must prepare an "Affidavit of Competency to Marry" signed and sworn to before his/her country's consular representative in Japan. Individuals associated with the U.S. military or Department of Defense should execute this affidavit at their base personnel or legal office.
Following is the procedure for Americans who wish to marry in Japan:
Step 1. American citizens wanting to marry should appear at a consular office with evidence of U.S. citizenship to prepare and sign the "Affidavit of Competency to Marry". Again individuals associated with the U.S. armed forces should obtain this affidavit at their base legal or personnel office.
Step 2. The couple must translate the "Affidavit of Competency to Marry" into Japanese. The Japanese form required for the registration of the marriage (called the "Kon-in Todoke") must also be completed in Japanese. Consular officers cannot assist with translation of these forms. American citizens unable to read and write Japanese may wish to employ the services of a professional translation agency or call upon friends for assistance. Two witnesses of any nationality who are over 20 years of age must sign the Japanese forms.
Step 3. The couple proceeds to the ward or city office for registration of the marriage. The marriage should normally be registered with the ward or city office having jurisdiction over one or the other party's place of residence in Japan. After accepting the marriage registration forms, the local government office will issue a "Certificate of Acceptance of Notification of Marriage" (marriage certificate) in the Japanese language. This is the primary evidence of a valid marriage. American citizens may wish to translate their marriage certificate in to English but should bear in mind that the Japanese language original is the only legal marriage document.Note 1. The Embassy's Consular Section is open to the public Monday through Friday, from 8:30 to 12:30 in the morning and from 2:00 to 4:00 in the afternoon. The Embassy is closed on Japanese American legal holidays.
Note 2. The consular fee for the "Affidavit of Competency to Marry" is 55 dollars or the yen equivalent. The Japanese Ward or City Office fee is 350 yen for an ordinary marriage certificate and 1,400 yen for the more ornate "special" marriage certificate.
Note 3. The local Ward or City Office maintains a permanent record of all marriages registered at that office. No record of the marriage is retained by the U.S. government. American citizens should therefore retain the address of the office where they registered their marriage for future reference.------------------
Documents Required for Marriage in Japan
The U.S. government requires only proof of U.S. citizenship (passport or birth certificate) and a personal identity document with a photograph attached (passport, driver's license or Japanese Alien Registration Card) in order to complete the "Affidavit of Competency to Marry". However, the Japanese government also requires the Marriage Registration Form (Kon-in Todoke), which is available free of charge at any City or Ward office, and
A. Proof of Nationality and Competency to Marry:
- 1. U.S. citizens:
- Certificate or Affidavit of Competency to Marry, with a Japanese translation United States Passport
- 2. Japanese citizens:
- Current (issued within a month) certified copy of Japanese family register (Koseki Tohon or Shohon) Personal Han (Seal)
- 3. Citizen other countries:
- Certificate or Affidavit of Competency to Marry, with a Japanese translation, issued by own Embassy Passport
B. American citizen minors require a notarized letter of consent from their parentes or legal guardian. The age of majority, which varies from state to state, is generally 20 for males and 18 for females. Japanese citizens under the age of 20 must have two copies of their parents' signed permission to marry (doisho).
IMPORTANT NOTE: Foreign nationals who wish to reside in the United States permanently must obtain an immigrant visa. The completion of marriage formalities in Japan is no guarantee that an immigrant visa will be issued to a non-U.S. citizen spouse. Please note that the documents presented to the Japanese government for marriage registration purposes may not be sufficient to obtain an immigrant visa. The nearest American consular office can provide further information concerning immigration to the United States.