Author: Yuka Sugiyama

Publisher:

Published: 2011

Total Pages: 592

ISBN-13:

This thesis examines the diversity and complexity of young Zainichi Koreans' perceptions and experiences, and the processes and dynamics of their ethnicity and identities. It challenges the prevalent assumptions of the dichotomised Zainichi Korean population; they are perceived either as being strongly politicised with either ethnic affiliation for North Korea or South Korea or as being totally assimilated into mainstream Japanese society. They are also considered to be divided in accordance with nationality and through participation in different representative organisations. This thesis explores variables in Zainichi Koreans' identity formation and maintenance of ethnic distinctiveness. It investigates the following questions: (1) what diversity exists among the lives of Zainichi Koreans and in ·their identities? (2) are young Koreans maintaining their ethnicity and in what ways are they maintaining it? (3) Are they redefining Zainichi Korean ethnicity and establishing new forms of ethnic identity as a collective group? This thesis adopts empirical qualitative multi-methods research based on semi-structured and in-depth interviews and field observations. The thematic topics in this study are: organisations and collective identities, ethnic school education, experiences of education and ethnic boundaries, choice of nationality, use of names, and ethnic appellations. These topics are deeply related to the following themes: family history, educational backgrounds, occupations, career plans, awareness of ethnicity, experiences of discrimination, relationships with Japanese and other Zainichi Koreans, political views and relations with Korea, self-definition, sense of belonging, cultural elements for maintaining ethnicity, and life values.