Discussion
On September 10, 2024, the 4th "Future of Japan in the Era of Post-Regional Studies, Future of Japan's Studies" X Japan Specialist Seminar was held in a hybrid format.
Around 35 attendees participated on-site, and 40 joined via Zoom. Professor Noriko Ijichi from the Department of Human Behavioral Sciences, Osaka Metropolitan University, gave a presentation titled "The Present and Future of Zainichi Korean Studies." The presentation content is summarized as follows.
The presenter introduced her first encounter with Zainichi Korean studies as a researcher and discussed her research topics. She focused on a chapter titled "The History of Human Movement between Japan and the Korean Peninsula since the Late 19th Century," explaining research on collective memory and community formation. The presenter also introduced the regional relationship between Osaka, Japan, and Jeju Island, Korea, as well as the Zainichi Korean history within the region, including the 4/3 Jeju Attack in Korea.
Professor Ijichi then introduced research on Zainichi Koreans in Japan and discussed studies conducted in Korea and the English-speaking world under the theme of "Globalized Zainichi." The presentation also mentioned the global phenomenon Apple TV show “Pachinko,” which has garnered worldwide attention. Since the presenter served as a historical consultant for the show, she shared some anecdotes related to her experience.
The presentation continued by discussing the increase in mixed roots (multicultural backgrounds) and the diversification of those living "in between." The presenter urged a reconsideration of "majority-ness" and proposed questioning national historical injustices without converging towards national interpretations.
Additionally, the presenter addressed issues faced by the second and third generations of Zainichi Koreans, Japan’s continuing colonialism and historical injustices, and the conflict between standardized narratives of Zainichi Koreans and personal discourses. She emphasized the need for reflection on how Japanese society, including academia, remains unaware of these historical injustices.
The presentation also examined how Japanese people learn about Japan's colonial rule through text-based education and research, and how they experience the history of the oppressed through both academic research and civic movements. There was discussion on how to return the acquired knowledge to society and the next generation while reflecting on majority-ness and the asymmetry of relations.
Lastly, the presenter highlighted the Osaka Korea Town History Museum and the establishment of Zainichi Korean monuments across Japan. Osaka Korea Town, which receives over 2 million visitors annually, is used as an educational space, especially as the number of mixed roots students increases.
After the presentation, a Q&A session followed. The main questions included: 1) What are the differences in perception between researchers in various countries when it comes to intersectionality and Zainichi studies? 2) How is residency status handled for those who live overseas but are still registered in Japan? 3) Up until now, Zainichi research has largely treated Zainichi Koreans as minority subjects. Research for Zainichi Koreans themselves is still lacking, and the general public has largely forgotten the history of Zainichi Koreans. How should the narrative of their community be initiated?
