Up to this point, the term âZainichi Koreanâ has been used without providing a specific definition. Who are âZainichi Koreansâ? At the beginning of this book, the term âZainichi Koreanâ was used as the âgeneral term for persons with roots in the Korean Peninsula who were directly or indirectly affected by Japan's colonial domination over the Korean Peninsula and who moved to Japan.â In modern society, determining to what extent should various persons be included (or would like to be included) within the scope of âZainichi Korean,â and who should not be included (or would like to not be included), has become difficult. Here, âZainichi Koreanâ include persons of South Korean, North Korean, persons with Japanese, or other citizenship.
Attributes of Zainichi Koreans have also become more complicated, such as persons who were born from parents of North/South Korean, Japanese, and/or other nationalities, referred to as âdoubleâ (or âhalfâ). Within that meaning, self-definition as âZainichi Koreanâ as an objective indicator (nationality, etc.) has become difficult and has become closer to the subjective indicator that âI am a Zainichi Korean,â or âI am one of those people who are called Zainichi Korean.â In other words, âZainichi Koreansâ are ethnic minorities with roots in the Korean Peninsula who have been directly and indirectly affected by Japan's colonial domination over the Korean Peninsula, and then moved to Japan. They are also comprised of persons with various attributes and are subject to disrespect and discriminatory treatment even in modern society.
As Table 1.1 shows, there was a time in Japan where âforeigners in Japanâ used to refer to âZainichi Koreans.â However, the proportion gradually decreased, and in modern times, âZainichi Koreansâ becomes one of many foreigners. Among these the âNumber of North/South Koreansâ who entered Japan after the 1980s, called ânewcomer Koreans,â are also included in âZainichi Koreans.â Among the âNumber of North/South Koreans,â the number of âspecial permanent residentsâ almost coincides with the number of Zainichi Koreans. âSpecial permanent residentâ is a residence status regulated by the âSpecial Act on the Immigration Control of Inter Alia, Those Who Have Lost Japanese Nationality Pursuant to the Treaty of Peace with Japan,â under the Japanese law that came into effect on November 1, 1991. Persons targeted by this Act include âpersons who have lost Japanese Nationality Pursuant to a Treaty of Peace,â or âa descendant of a person who has lost Japanese Nationality Pursuant to a Treaty of Peace,â and specifically North/South Koreans and Taiwanese who lost Japanese nationality pursuant to the San Francisco Peace Treaty that came into effect on April 28, 1952. Among special permanent residents, persons with nationalities other than North/South Korean comprise 1% of the total. In other words, almost all special permanent residents are North/South Koreans. Consequently, the number of special permanent residents is considered to indicate the number of Zainichi Koreans.
Table 1.1Changes in the number of North/South Korean nationals in Japan (prepared based on âChanges in the Number of Foreign Residentsâ (previously âChanges in the Number of Registered Foreign Nationalsâ) by the Ministry of Justice) Year | Number of fo... |