The kids, who hold Philippine citizenship, filed to be recognized as Japanese nationals in February and March last year, but their applications were rejected on grounds that they did not meet the necessary conditions.

The children, aged 6 to 12 and residents of Tokyo and Chiba, Saitama and Kanagawa prefectures, had lawsuits filed on their behalf in April.

The court said the Nationality Law clause that only allows Japanese-fathered kids born out of wedlock whose fathers admit paternity before birth to acquire Japanese nationality runs counter to the principle of equality before the law.

The Japan Times Weekly: April 8, 2006
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