Well looks like a decision is about to be made. I've grown tired of how America is turning out, going downhill more and more each day. I served my country for 21 years, took two bullets in 'Nam. I'm done giving, there is nothing left and there is nothing holding me here anymore. I'm shipping all my handguns and AR's to my best friend in Alaska. Our final destination will be Japan where my wife and I own a nice 2br in Minami Azabu, Tokyo. Lived in Japan for 17 years and I am relatively fluent in japanese and can read and write, including some kanji. Whats nice about it all is I received my 9th permit to possess two rifles shotguns, having passed all the exams and today I received my permit from the the Tokyo Metro Police to bring them in (within 6 months). They will hold on to them until my safe arrives (about a month) and is installed in our home and inspected for compliance. I'm also cleared for hunting. Sure, no pistols or AR's but my sanity is more important. Once thing I'm sure of, once I leave I will not come back, just visit my daughter's family in Sacramento, CA.
My ultimate plan is to petition for Japanese citizenship. According to our lawyer in Japan, he said that I can maitain dual but not sure if I will.  My wife is Japanese and her family will sponsor. I will have to take on a Japanese last name (her family's) but will still be able to use my "gaijin" name as well. We'' probably leave sometime in June and will rent our current home here until we decide to sell it and my other rental property. My SSA, Military Retirement, and Civil Service retirement is all good to go, as is my wife's. Will lose medicare but who cares, I still have military benefits and since my wife also collects japanese social security, I can fall under her medical plan.
Tired of living under the thumb of the the village idiot and his minions and the liberal infection here in America. Yes Japan is a social democracy but is peaceful and I truly love it there.......
Thanks just for listening.........

Good luck... I hope everything works out and you find what you are looking for! 

Best wishes to you and the wishes, mrgaf. 

Thank you for your years of service, safe travels and blessings to you both!

Japans a great country.  Not very 2a friendly but an amazing place probably my 2nd choice if I didn't have America.  Europe is a utter mess and will only get worse and America looks to be heading downhill especially if we decide to go Hilary in the election.

I didn't know you could bring firearms into Japan.  Good luck and safe travels.

Wow, didn't think you could own any firearms at all there.

I love Japan.  Great food, it's clean, and nice people. 

If anything it's definitely a lifestyle changer(this is a good thing I'd say, you only live once), but the main thing is you already have the language down. 

I think your thoughts are on the minds of many Americans here days, especially when you factor in all the 3 letter acronyms around and the fact that election cycles are like pro wrestling without the wrestling. 

I'm jealous about all the good food you'll have access too 

Best of luck! 

I lived in Japan for a year and consider it almost like a second home.

I think your attorney is wrong about dual citizenship. Everything I have heard is that they do not let anyone retain dual citizenship. As soon as my friend turned 20 (their age of adulthood) the government sent him a letter saying he had to choose either his American citizenship or his Japanese citizenship.

I am sure you can get permanent residency if you have a clean record. Getting citizenship is rather hard I have heard. Might even be a kanji test but I am speculating there.

I lived in Japan for a year and consider it almost like a second home.

I think your attorney is wrong about dual citizenship. Everything I have heard is that they do not let anyone retain dual citizenship. As soon as my friend turned 20 (their age of adulthood) the government sent him a letter saying he had to choose either his American citizenship or his Japanese citizenship.

I am sure you can get permanent residency if you have a clean record. Getting citizenship is rather hard I have heard. Might even be a kanji test but I am speculating there.

That was my understanding as well but if it's a no no then will go for full citizenship once my residency requirements have been met. Since I own property there and sponsorship from the wife's family, i have been able to get thier version of a green card.
As for the firearms, yes it is VERY hard to qualify, just a little over two years when I first applied in 1974. After a certain point it becomes easier, especially if you retain a lawyer who specializes in the process. Expensive? You bet! It cost me about $5000 total to receive my permits. Renewal is cheap though. A couple of papers, ¥10000, an inspection of your residence and firearms and a doctors letter and your good to go. Nice thing is the police in Japan have become my shooting partners over the years and they tend to "grease the skids" for me. Surprisingly I even traveled by train to Gunma with my Miroku O/U, and a bag of shot shells! It did not take a rocket sci ntiwh to figure out what was in a hard case. I even got asked if that was a "sandan-ju (shotgun). Once I said yes, the questions really started abou if I was going hunting or target shooting. Most of the questions came from young to middle aged women! They where really interested. Got quite a few pictures taken with mr holding the shotgun case! Like I said they are a beautiful people, so kind and polite. This haku-Jin ojisan can't wait to return there for good.

all you're doing is making the anti's stronger.

all you're doing is making the anti's stronger.

Maybe so but it is what it is....I've given enough and it's time for me to move on. I'm sure little old me will have no difference in fighting the anti's. I leave it in your capable hands. If you even come to Japan, look me up and i'll take you hunting and trap shooting.....

Good luck to you.  It's sad that you feel that you have to leave Hawaii, but it is what it is.

I've worked in Japan and spent a bunch of time there.  I also was dating a Japanese girl for a while and I seriously considered taking a temporary position there for work.  I could see myself living there for 3-5 years, but right now, I don't seem myself living there permanently.  Honestly, the 3-5 initial period probably would tell me either way, but I never got to that point.  The language barrier is one thing.  I didn't grow up speaking the language, but I picked up some here and there through work and the ex.  But if you don't use it, you lose it. 

I really enjoy the food and the culture.  However, that is from a perspective of someone who hasn't lived there to see the other things that living there entails.  One is the transition to depending on public transportation.  I guess if I lived in Okinawa, it would be more like Hawaii, but I don't see myself living in Okinawa for too long.  Too damn hot!   

Yeah, guns aren't easy to come by in Japan, but it is possible.  I had offered to take the ex and her friends that would visit shooting, but they were mostly interested in beaches, food, etc.  That said, I see that there is usually a LOT of interest in shooting by visitors from Asia, particularly Japan. 

Again, best wishes to you! 

Not to rain on the parade, but did you consider the Japanese economy will collapse in the future...and probably not recover for possibly decades?

I'm sorry you feel that way about America.  Most likely you and i are about the same age, therefore you likely remember this saying.  "America love it or leave it". This is the greatest country in the world, always will be.

No f$&@s given.

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.

God bless America.

Mrgaf,

Japan is a great country. There is no shame in desiring to live there, they have many good things we don't. But I guess the issue to some seems to be that we shouldn't quit trying to improve America just because it is hard. But if your reason for living in Japan is because you love it there, then that is good enough for me.

I likely share your frustrations about the state of affairs in this country but I wouldn't write it off just yet. I haven't even gotten to the point I would leave Hawaii yet. As many problems as we do have we also have a lot of other good things you wont find anywhere else.

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.

God bless America.

Guess so.... 

No f$&@s given.

 No f$&@s reply 

I'm sorry you feel that way about America.  Most likely you and i are about the same age, therefore you likely remember this saying.  "America love it or leave it". This is the greatest country in the world, always will be.

Don't get me wrong I will always love America, just not the BS going on. Japan is just st a better fit for me now. Call me when the shooting war starts... Will be on the first plane back.

Not to rain on the parade, but did you consider the Japanese economy will collapse in the future...and probably not recover for possibly decades?

Yup