Following the advice I’ve read on here I’ve tried to register my name in katakana as a legal alias (通称名) at my local ward office.
The first time I went there just after I arrived in Japan they told me to wait 6 months to register a legal alias and to bring proof that I’ve been using that name during that time.
I duly waited 6 months and brought letters from my bank and phone, electricity and gas bills and was asked by the clerk at the ward office why I wanted to register a legal alias. I told them I want to have it printed on my driver’s license and or my number card and they told me that’s not an acceptable reason to register a legal alias and brushed me off.
Undeterred I went again today with a Japanese friend to translate in case there were any misunderstandings and the clerk today was adamant that katakana names can’t be registered as a legal alias and all I could do was get a 住民票 with my name in katakana.
Have the laws changed or has this been impossible the whole time?
My name in romaji is too long to input in most forms here however my name in katakana works so I need an ID with my katakana name.