A Myanmar couple and their child seeking special residential status lost a court battle Friday in Tokyo to overturn a justice minister's rejection of their application.
Mayung Myinp, 45, his wife, Ma San Yu Pun, 36, and their 4-year-old daughter applied in September 1999 to the Justice Ministry for special permission to stay in Japan after staying here for years without legitimate visas, claiming they have become accustomed to living in this country.
The father came to Japan in 1990 on a three-month tourist visa and worked in a printing factory in Tokyo. His wife came to Japan in 1994, and their daughter was born here and now attends a public nursery school.