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, who are referred to as Zainichi Koreans, constitute one percent of the total population making them the nation's largest ethnic minority. Culturally different from both Korean nationals in Korea and majority Japanese, the young second and third generation Korean residents have developed a complex ethnic identity through their struggles with Japanese racism. Based on 'life-history interviews' with a number of young Zainichi Koreans in Japan, this study identifies their five broad types of ethnic identity: the pluralist, nationalist, individualist, naturalizing, and ethnic solidarity types. The study also 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.