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For example, I believe you have to "Japanize" your name and show that you have fully embraced the Japanese way of life.

Not exactly, but close. Japanese have the Kanji script (related to Chinese) for which they keep authentic Japanese names like Suzki etc. It is a pictographic script. The Katakana script is phonetic and is used for non-Japanese names like say Jackie. So Jacki Suzuki would be written in a mix of Katakana and Kanji. They've also got another script Hiragana and many times use the Roman script. Hmmm.. maybe that's the reason they don't get too many foreigners, it's too darn difficult to understand them!!!

And more on the Japanese. I don't know if it's true, but it seems that if you're of Japanese origin but say born in the US or elsewhere (like Fujimori of Peru), your entire name is written in Katakana to show that you are a "gaijin" foreigner and not Japanese. Yup, you're right, the Japs are highly xenophobic, gaijin is a major curse word over there, like "mud-blood" for Muggles in Harry Potter,