Koreans in Japan facts for kids
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 855,725 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Tokyo (Shin-Ōkubo) · Osaka Prefecture (Ikuno-ku) | |
| Languages | |
| Japanese · Korean (Zainichi Korean) | |
| Religion | |
| Buddhism · Shinto/Korean Shamanism · Christianity · Irreligion | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Korean people |
Koreans in Japan are people of Korean background who live permanently in Japan. Many of them are Japanese citizens. Their families first came to Japan before 1945. This group is different from South Koreans who moved to Japan after World War II and the division of Korea.
Most Koreans in Japan are called Zainichi Koreans. This term means "staying in Japan." It refers to Koreans who have lived in Japan for a long time. Their families originally came from Korea under Japanese rule. This makes them different from Koreans who arrived later, mostly in the 1980s. It also sets them apart from very old Korean immigrants.
Zainichi Koreans are currently the second largest minority group in Japan. They are an important part of Japan's diverse population.
A Look at Their History
The movement of Koreans to Japan began after the Japan–Korea Treaty of 1876. This flow of people grew a lot after 1920. During World War II, many Koreans were also asked to work for Japan.
Another group of Koreans moved to Japan after the Korean War in the 1950s. This war caused a lot of damage in South Korea.
Who are Zainichi Koreans?
The term "Zainichi" means "staying in Japan." It often suggests a temporary stay. However, "Zainichi Korean" describes Koreans who have settled down and become permanent residents of Japan.
These individuals and their families have deep roots in Japan. They have built communities and contributed to Japanese society. They keep their Korean heritage alive while living in Japan.
Images for kids
-
Restrictions of passage from the Korean Peninsula (April 1919-1922), the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake, restrictions of passage from Busan (October 1925), opening of independent travel service by Koreans between Jeju and Osaka (April 1930), Park Choon-Geum was elected for the House of Representatives of Japan (February 1932), removal of restrictions of civil recruit from the Korean Peninsula (September 1939), public recruit from the Korean Peninsula (March 1942), labor conscription from the Korean Peninsula (September 1944), the end of WWII and the beginning of repatriation (1945), the Jeju uprising (April 1948), the Korean War (June 1950), the Home-coming Movement to North Korea (December 1959-1983), the Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea (1965), (1977-1983), Japanese ratification of the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees (1982), the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis
-
Dates of entrance or birth of Korean residents in Japan as of the end of 1958
-
The second Kobe riots in 1950
-
Repatriation of Koreans from Japan, January 1960
-
Numbers of birth, death, and naturalization of Koreans in Japan
-
Marriage of Koreans in Japan
-
Classroom at Tokyo Korean High School with photographs of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il
See also
In Spanish: Coreanos en Japón para niños
