ABSTRACT
More than a half century has passed since Koreans were liberated from the Japanese colonial rule. The current situation, however, indicates that Japan is far from a fair society for Korean residents, since prejudice against Koreans, largely a colonial legacy, is generally still strong among Japanese. Discrimination has been widely recorded in the areas of employment, business opportunities, marriage, schooling, and housing, let alone the systemic discrimination in the area of civil rights status which keeps Koreans in the position of second-class citizens in Japan (see for example, Min Gwan-sik 1994; Kim Ch’an-jŏng 1994; Ko Ch’anyu 1996; Nomura 1996; Ōnuma 1986). Since being Korean carries stigma, many Koreans tend to hide their ethnic backgrounds, for example by using Japanese names in their everyday life. In order to change the situation, some Japanese, both individuals and organizations, especially in the area of education, try to encourage Korean children to appreciate their ethnic heritage. This chapter probes into obstacles and difficulties these attempts face, including some unintended consequences of well-intended support.
