reply@newsgroup.net wrote:
> Hi,
>
> How easy is it to register a tsuushoumei (alias) at City Hall?
>
> Some quick surfing turns up
> http://www.moj.go.jp/NYUKAN/nyukan02-01.html (showing where it would
> appear on your gaigin card), but there are also some local
> authorities who seem to want proof that you are actually using the
> alias.
>
> I can see why (mainly to stop people registering silly names) but
> won't it be a Catch 22 situation to try and get an alias accepted in
> any official context without the proof that it belongs to you?
>
> Also, it is possible to change your alias after you register, or does
> it become absolutely fixed?
>
> I haven't come to Japan for any period that would require the alien
> registration card before, so I'm not able to ask the authorities
> myself; it would be great to hear from anyone else who's been in this
> situation.

Not really sure what you're asking about here, but in my case, I have a 
kanji-based version of my name that I use for my hanko, and I don't remember 
any problem in getting that included on my gaijin card, where it appears in 
parentheses next to my name. I don't remember if I had to show them the 
hanko during the process. I do remember that the custom hanko cost me about 
3,000 yen. I also remember a bit of trouble about opening a bank account 
using the Japanese version of my name, but they did it anyway.

The piece of paper that comes with the gaijin card says you have to report a 
change of name, so it must be possible to change it. However, that might be 
limited, perhaps to marriage. The main name changing I've heard about is in 
case of citizenship, but in that case, the gaijin card becomes moot.