ABSTRACT
This chapter analyzes the awakening of Japanese identity among the Japanese war orphans with a focus on the following six points.
(1) The delayed search for Japanese war orphans is discussed. The Japanese government ignored the existence of Japanese war orphans from 1959 to 1972. Then, between 1972 and 1980, the Japanese government did not actively support their return to Japan as a state policy. Starting in the 1980s, the Japanese government began promoting the search for the Japanese war orphans’ blood relatives in earnest.
(2) The way the Japanese war orphans openly expressed their “patriotism” toward affluent Japan is analyzed based on the many letters they sent.
(3) The joy and sorrow at finding blood relatives are analyzed based on the following three cases: Takayoshi Fujiwara, who reunited with his natural father after 38 years apart; Kazuya Yanagawa, who experienced conflict with his Japanese relatives after reunion; and Masamichi Sato, who had not found blood relatives in Japan.
(4) The actual circumstances and background behind the rejection of Japanese war orphans by their blood relatives after reuniting are also introduced.
(5) The reasons why Japanese war orphans returned to Japan or not are analyzed.
6) Because the mass media created the image of Japanese war orphans as being unhappy, the author of Daichi no Ko, a drama depicting a Japanese war orphan who achieved a certain level of social status in China, was criticized by Japanese war orphans and groups of supporters.
