The ongoing debate on a bill to grant foreigners voting rights is being sidetracked by opponents who claim the issue can be resolved by amending the nation's naturalization policy.
While the policy is notorious for its lack of clarity, those in favor of the bill doubt if its opponents really intend to make it easier for foreigners to obtain citizenship and suspect they are merely trying to muddy the suffrage argument.
The opponents say they are making things easier. By obtaining Japanese citizenship, they claim, foreigners would be automatically granted the right to vote, making the current debate moot.