This paper examines the lives of Koreans in Japan since The Treaty of Kanghwa. It examines the legal changes, social and cultural changes, and the political changes that have been made throughout the years and deals with issues of nationality, alien registration and names. Issues of marriage, work, education, accommodation, and voting rights are also discussed.
Finally, it concludes by discussing the changes which have been made since the end of World War II and makes recommendations for the future.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1 Annexation and the beginnings of racial Discrimination
2. LEGAL CHANGES
2.1 a. Nationality
2.2 b. Alien Registration
2.3 c. Names
3. SOCIAL AND CULTURAL CHANGE
3.1 a. Marriage
3.2 b. Work
3.3 c. Education
3.4 d. Accommodation
4. POLITICAL CHANGES
4.1 Voting Rights
5. CONCLUSION
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines the evolution of the status and lived experience of the Korean minority in Japan following the 1910 annexation, focusing on their legal, social, and political struggles for rights and recognition within an often exclusionary society.
- Historical impact of the annexation and subsequent racial discrimination.
- Legal challenges regarding nationality, alien registration, and personal identity.
- Social shifts concerning marriage, employment, and education.
- The struggle for political participation and voting rights for resident Koreans.
- Analysis of the shift from an assimilation-resistant community to the integration of younger, naturalized generations.
Excerpt from the Book
a. Nationality
Between 1940 and 1945, about 1 million Koreans were brought to Japan to work as virtual slaves, and at wars end, as previously stated, there were close to 2.4 million Koreans in the country.
With Korean independence from Japan, an estimated 1.7 million Koreans in Japan returned to the Korean peninsula (Chung, 2000, 4).
The remaining 600,000 were denationalized under the Alien Registration Law of 1947 and were required to carry alien registration cards.
Many Koreans chose not to return to Korea because of restrictions on the property that could be taken. This was set at 1,000 yen in cash or equivalent and 250 pounds of personal effects (Hicks, 1997, 24).
The situation in Korea immediately after the war was chaotic, which further hindered repatriation and the Koreans who did return were mainly penniless conscripts who had nothing to lose by going back to Korea. They couldn’t envisage a brighter future by remaining in Japan. The Korean community remaining in Japan was split into several different factions, with the Soren embracing most of the Korean community until the late 1960’s.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Outlines the historical context of the annexation of Korea and the resulting systematic racial discrimination against the Korean minority in Japan.
LEGAL CHANGES: Analyzes the structural obstacles faced by Koreans regarding their legal status, including issues of nationality, the burden of alien registration, and the pressure to adopt Japanese names.
SOCIAL AND CULTURAL CHANGE: Discusses the evolving realities of daily life for resident Koreans, specifically covering trends in marriage, employment struggles, the function of Korean schools, and the challenges of accessing private housing.
POLITICAL CHANGES: Reviews the movement for suffrage and the push for political representation, highlighting the efforts of local communities and the slow legislative progress toward granting voting rights.
CONCLUSION: Summarizes the influence of both internal activism and the changing international political environment on the gradual improvement of the status of Koreans in Japan.
Keywords
Annexation, Racial Discrimination, Nationality, Alien Registration, Soren, Mindan, Marriage, Employment, Education, Accommodation, Voting Rights, Suffrage, Assimilation, Naturalization, Zainichi.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper focuses on the historical and contemporary experiences of the Korean minority living in Japan, specifically documenting the various legislative and social hurdles they have faced since 1910.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The work covers legal rights, social integration, employment and education discrimination, and the ongoing political struggle for suffrage.
What is the main research objective?
The objective is to assess the evolution of the legal and social status of Koreans in Japan since 1945 and to examine how they have fought for their rights.
Which scientific methodology does the author employ?
The author utilizes a historical and descriptive analysis based on documented legal changes, demographic data, and case studies of civil rights movements.
What is addressed in the main part of the work?
The main section details the legal, social, and political transformations, focusing on issues like nationality, the Hitachi lawsuit, marriage trends, and the fight for municipal voting rights.
Which keywords define this work?
The work is defined by terms such as Annexation, Racial Discrimination, Zainichi, Suffrage, Naturalization, and Social Integration.
What was the significance of the 1984 Nationality Law revision?
It allowed children born of mixed marriages to inherit Japanese nationality through either parent, significantly facilitating the naturalization of Korean-Japanese descendants.
Why did many early generation Koreans refuse naturalization?
Many held the strong hope of eventually returning to their home country and viewed naturalization as a betrayal of their Korean identity and heritage.
- Quote paper
- Gerry Mclellan (Author), 2005, Racism in Japan, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/175397
