Lives of Young Koreans in Japan

Japan exercised colonial rule over Korea from 1910 to 1945 and many Koreans emigrated to Japan during this period. Today, these Korean migrants and their descendants constitute one percent of the total population making them the nation's largest ethnic minority. Culturally different from both Korean nationals and Japanese, the young third-generation Korean migrants have developed a complex ethnic identity through their struggles with Japanese racism. This study seeks to dispel the myth that Japan is a homogenous nation. Part I of this book includes brief accounts of the young Koreans' history and present circumstances. Then, their five broad types of ethnic identity are identified: the pluralist, nationalist, individualist, naturalizing, and ethnic solidarity types. Part II presents case studies of young ethnic Korean women living within Japanese society. Pointing the way towards the eradication of racism, Fukuoka's book will appeal to anyone interested in contemporary Japan or minority studies.