Japan's Hidden Apartheid by George Hicks

Author:George Hicks [Hicks, George]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Social Science, General
ISBN: 9780429805134
Google: 0zeDDwAAQBAJ
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2021-05-08T04:56:27+00:00

6 Nationality and naturalization

Yumi Lee expresses the basic reasons why most, but far from all, of the Korean community has always been unwilling to naturalize under the conditions demanded by Japan.

Japan committed indescribable brutality and sordid acts including massacre, plunder, and rape during World War Π against Asians. What is more, they do not take responsibility for what they did; they act overbearingly. This is one of the reasons why I refuse complete assimilation. Their attitude is: ‘We will always allow you to be one of us.’ The process of complete assimilation consists of screening to select how one can be a good Japanese national and how good it would be to leave the original ethnicity behind. The historical background is completely ignored. I believe the Naturalization Law of Japan is a denial of humanity. Unlike other countries, Japan does not separate race and nationality. There is no such expression as ‘Korean-Japanese’ in the manner of ‘Japanese-American.’

When we look back at history, most of the Jews killed in Hitler’s genocide were of German nationality and the whole world saw Hitler as the enemy. It was not an issue of nationality but of ethnicity. Those Japanese-Americans forced to move into camps during World War Π had American citizenship. Should tension between Japan and our mother country arise in the future, it is apparent that having Japanese nationality would not settle the problem whether for second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth generations of resident Koreans. Japan has to review history thoroughly to understand why we are here in Japan. They have to understand, accept, and adopt an affirmative scheme. Otherwise we continue to fear the possibility the Jews once faced.

To survive and live in Japan, some obtained Japanese nationality; they went through an inhumane procedure. They are officially called ‘new Japanese.’ [This refers to the entry ‘naturalized’ on the new Domicile Register in lieu of the ‘previous domicile’ entry in a case of domicile transfer.]

I don’t think those who become ‘new Japanese’ are much impressed by this procedure. Japan unreasonably emphasizes the ‘favor’ done to us by making us go through difficult procedures to obtain Japanese nationality. I cannot feel that Japan is a country with a big heart. Japanese nationality is not attractive to obtain. I do not want to be part of a nation which tormented, and is still tormenting, fellow Asians. In any case, Japanese nationality should be given unconditionally to permanent residents. This can be historically justified.

Intentionally, I did not apply for naturalization. I am not willing to clear those heavy conditions to make me feel I would be given something honorable. The majority of Korean residents do not become naturalized for this reason. This seems to be difficult for Westerners to understand. I’d rather live with walls of discrimination than live with falsehood.

I believe that the whole issue would become a non-issue for me when the sacrifice by my ancestors, grandparents, and parents to Japan is clarified, and sincere and appropriate compensation is made. When Japan matures, I think ill-feeling towards it will evaporate.

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