Today’s topic is about a minority group in Japan, especially Korean town in Osaka. Osaka has one of the biggest Korean towns in Ikuno area, Turuhashi. Historically, Korean people are discriminated against by Japanese. This bias affects to the issues of marriage and recruiting, so that many Korean people suffered from their jobs and money. After the world war 2, Turuhashi area was called Yamiiti, which was a place for illegal market. At that time in that area, you could buy anything, even handguns. Many Koreans who were typically poor gathered that area and did their jobs. Some Korean people seeking the jobs did anything even illegal thing. That’s why some old Japanese who experienced that time still have negative image to Korean people. Actually, it is said that 70% of Japanese mafia member is Korean people whose family are historically discriminated against. This is because they have difficulties with recruiting.
I introduced the backgrounds of Turuhashi area. Now I refer to current state of Turuhashi and new trend of those community. Firstly, Korean people are now living in Imazato area which is next to Turuhashi area. Because the Turuhashi station is very convenient for people to move throughout Osaka, that area has become expensive to live in. Therefore, most Korean people moved to Imazato area where is easily to live. If you get off the Imazato station of Kintetu line and walk 5 minutes toward any directions, you will see the Korean signboards and hear Korean words rather than Japanese. They live in there, and go to Turuhashi to work. There are many Yakiniku restaurants and Korean restaurants. I used to work at one of them in Turuhashi. Of course the owner is Korean Japanese.
If you want to experience this aspect of Japan, I really suggest you to visit Turuhashi.
pic1 claims "Don't write anything about discrimination"
pic2 is Korean shops which mainly deal with KIMCHI
pic3 is Yakiniku reataurants road in front of the station
link... an organization of Turuhashi market.
http://www.tsurushin.com/
This is a very important subject and I think it needs more attention and explanation than what you provide in this post. Citations would be helpful, especially with the yakuza link (which is questionable).
ReplyDeleteWhy are these people referred to as Korean when they and their parents were born in Japan? We are talking about 3rd and 4th generations of people whose ancestors were brought to Japan to work as cheap labor before and during WWII. At that time they were considered citizens of Japan - but citizen was stripped of them after Japan's defeat. There is a lot of context that should be added to this post. Academic links to works by anthropologists who have researched these people seem necessary here. Our own Professor Hester has research zainichi.
I love Tsuruhashi and the Korea Town area. It is a very different atmosphere than other parts of Osaka.