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sushi · Joined: 28 Aug 2005 Posts: 145

This has been a big criticism of Japan by the rest of the world. Why are there so many right wingers in government who are doing their utmost to keep Japan for the Japanese. Koreans who were born there and whose parents were born there are still considered aliens or foreigeners. Some though have done well for themselves like for example the Lotte founder.

Article in Time magazine recently quoted buisness men who said the country must change it's immigration policies and allow more foreigeners in as residents and then as citizens.

Korea is backwards in a lot of things, but it at least is considering other options to a one race only policy

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

SeasonedVet · Joined: 28 Aug 2006 Posts: 236 Location: Japan

Canuck wrote:

furiousmilksheikali · Posted: Tue Sep 26, 2006 3:02 pm Post subject:

luckyloser700 · Joined: 24 Mar 2006 Posts: 308 Location: Japan

SeasonedVet · Joined: 28 Aug 2006 Posts: 236 Location: Japan

furiousmilksheikali wrote:

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

I realize the limitations SeasonedVet has on trying to answer the question about Koreans. Let me just add these points.

1. Changing names to Japanese ones is not just for Koreans. All naturalized citizens must do it.

2. Interrogation sounds militaristic, but in general terms it is true, according to naturalized citizen Debito Arudou. The point I want to make is that it applies to anyone wishing to be naturalized, not just Koreans.

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

one of my former students used his Korean name when he was in 10th grade, but by the time he was 17 his name was Japanese, because he wanted his name to change.
I think he wanted to blend in. He had lived in Korea and I think he had a hard time being a returnee.
Both of his parents are university teachers.

Another boy I taught had a Japanese name. He was 4th generation, I think.

I have taught a couple other Koreans who have kept their name.

ironopolis · Joined: 01 Apr 2004 Posts: 379

It is usually true that ethnic Koreans in Japan can go through the processes to get Japanese nationality, but that many choose not to.

But, as seasoned vet also mentioned, it would be a woeful oversimplification to sum up their situation in that way. It still wouldn't be a perfect way to sum it up, but perhaps it might be more accurate to say they can 'go through the processes to get rid of their Korean nationality, but many chose not to'. Because, that's really what it amounts to. To get anywhere in Japanese society, they'll usually have to erase all traces of "Koreanness".

Glenski is right that other nationalities may also have to change their names, and they'll also be unable to retain their former nationality. But other nationalities were not subject to the brutal occupation and attempted cultural genocide of forced name changes and the banning by an occupying power of their own language on their own soil in the relatively recent past. So it's surely perfectly understandable that many find having to get rid of even their name to get a better life in the country they were born in somewhat humiliating. Given this background to the situatuion, it's very disappointing that even present day Japan bends so little to accommodate ethnic Koreans born in Japan, speaking its language and contributing to its society.

Another thing that probably not many people realise is that ethnic Koreans who DO change their nationality and end up using a Japanese name sometimes still find doors not open to them. I personally know one such person whose Japanese fiance's parents suddenly withdrew their approval and support of their plans to get married when they found out she had a Korean background. (Both her parents were born here, it had been her grandparents who were brought over as forced labourers during the period of occupation.) I know a couple of others who have been refused employment or promotion, which they believe was for the same reason.

It IS an extremely complex issue which would require a lot of time to cover all the angles of. But, I think the more you learn about it, the more disappointed you become with how the Japanese state has treated these people. It's certainly true that Japan isn't the only country to not appear in a very favourable light on this issue, but it's a bit sad when that's used as the excuse to do nothing.