"John" <gh14tq5@yahoo.com> wrote:

> 1- Document that proves you born in the U.S (translated).
> 2- Document that proves you are not married (translated).
> 3- An interview to certify where we met and why we are getting married.
> 4- You need two persons to sign a form ( witnesses )
> 5- In the City office, everything is like going to pay your "gas or
> electricity". You go to a machine, by a ticket, make the line,
> receive the documents, sign and finish: YOU GOT MARRIED.
>
> I guess #1 is a birth certificate.  I have no idea what kind of document
> #2 is except for a personal letter stating I'm not married.

I recommend contacting the US embassy in Japan, as they should be able to 
tell you how to obtain document #2 and help you with the official 
translations that are required. Note that getting all the necessary 
documents from your embassy can easily take a few weeks, so this should be 
your very first step.

> How long before the ceremony should we finish the documents at the city
> office?

As soon or as late as you like, since the ceremony has absolutely no legal 
standing, and you don't have to be legally married to hold a wedding 
ceremony.

>  Do I need an official hanko?

Having one would obviously make things easier, but non-Japanese can probably 
get by with a signature or pawprint.


-- 
Dave Fossett
Saitama, Japan