Shigeyo Hasuike (second from left) and her brother, Katsuya, hold flowers given by locals on May 23 as their mother, Yukiko (left), looks on.
But Koreans in Japan worry that the children, who were born and raised in North Korea, are under too much pressure to become Japanese and warn that they could ultimately suffer identity problems. (I feel that the koreans are going too far now. Considering the fact that these people are japanese. It can be said that they already have identity issues because of their lack of contact with japanese culture and so on. Now if a korean lived in japan all his life these koreans would be the first one to condem him and attempt to koreanize him. What the japanese do with these victims is up to them. Not koreans. To suggest that they just be "kept korean" is ridiculous. If the tables were turned the koreans would not suggest "keeping them japanese". So they really need to stop.)
Since the May 22 arrival in Japan of the three children of Yasushi and Fukie Chimura and the two children of Kaoru and Yukiko Hasuike, local governments in Fukui and Niigata prefectures have been busy preparing to help the children settle in their new homes.
Fukui Prefecture has set up a committee tasked with offering support to the Chimura children -- daughter Emi, 22, and sons Yasuhiko, 20, and Kiyoshi, 16 -- ranging from Japanese language and culture instruction to psychological counseling.
"The prefecture plans to support the children of the Chimuras for five years," said Shuji Mitsuya, assistant director of the Fukui Prefectural Government's International Division.
"We will start by assisting the children in learning the Japanese language and learning the customs and culture of Japan and, if needed, offer counseling. Eventually, if they desire, we will help the children find work or enter university," Mitsuya said.
Prefectural employees have also been asked by the governor to donate money to assist the Chimuras. Mitsuya said the money has not been earmarked for any special purpose, but is being collected to assist the general needs of the family.
Niigata Prefecture has established a similar committee, and prefectural employees there have already gathered more than 2 million yen in donations that will be used primarily to assist the Hasuike children -- 22-year-old daughter Shigeyo, and son Katsuya, 19.
The children of both the Chimuras and Hasuikes, who previously lived under their Korean names, were told of their Japanese names shortly after coming to Japan. For a long time, the parents kept the children's Japanese names to themselves. ( I bet they did. The north koreans would have a field day with them if they went by japanese names.)
Yet the viability -- and even desirability -- of efforts to integrate the children into Japanese society has been questioned. (Let me guess what group the people that question it are from.
)As far as the children are concerned, Japan is their parents' country, while North Korea is their mother country, according to Chung Kwi Hwan, director of the International Affairs Division of the Osaka chapter of the pro-Seoul Korean Residents Union in Japan (Mindan). (Luckily it is not up to the children. These children will not be able to properly function in japan if they do not learn the basics. That much is obvious.)
"There is a chance that, in a few years, the children will decide to return to their mother culture," Chung said. ( They would be fools to return to north korea. It infuriate me too considering the amount of money koizumi put in that dictators hands to get them back. Unfortunately it is a crime against humanity to force them to remain.)
The three children of Yasushi and Fukie Chimura -- Kiyoshi (second from left), Emi (center) and Yasuhiko (second from right) -- are greeted by local people upon their arrival here May 24.
"Even if they don't go back to North Korea, they might wish to study or work in South Korea. How would Japan react if, after all of the effort spent on trying to make them 'Japanese,' they decide to leave because they don't fit in?" (This one would be deeply angered even further with the situation.)
Jung Woo Suh, president of the Osaka-based Human Rights Association for Koreans in Japan, said: "The problem with the current approach toward helping the children is that it's a form of scrap-and-build.
"Japan wants to force the children to forget what they learned in North Korea and reprogram them. But this will deny the children's cultural identity, which is Korean, and they could end up angry and hating Japan." (What the hell is he talking about? These can't just stay in japan with NORTH KOREAN ethics. That is unacceptable. The brainwashing the north koreans have done to them must be reprogrammed. That goes without question even if they do not like it. We all know it would be a different story if the shoe was on the foot opposite.)
Jung said that certain things they learned in North Korea were fallacious: Kim Il Sung being a god, for example. (Damn right. This must be corrected.)
"But other things, like 20th century history, were true," he claimed.
"Some Japanese media say such education, especially about history, was anti-Japanese. But it's factually accurate and should not be forgotten." (Oh so this is what it was all about. Of course.
I personally don't care about that part but the rest of that north korean propaganda these children have had must be dealt with. )Chung and Jung also feel that the local governments are making a mistake by not including Korean residents on the committees formed to help the children. Fukui Prefecture's Mitsuya said it is unlikely that Koreans born and raised in Japan could understand the children, but Chung said that is not the issue. (I agree with the local government decision. This is no longer a korean issue.
"Having somebody from the local Korean community would show the children that there is a spirit of cooperation between Japanese and Koreans and offer them role models of those who understand both cultures," he said. (Show them what? How do burn japanese flags? I think not. These japanese have been in north korea for so long. That higher measures must be taken to correct the anti japan propaganda. I am not saying they cannot have contact with korean because that would be unfair. I am saying the koreans should have no say in their educational process and reassimilation in to japan society.)
Jung, on the other hand, worries that the lack of Koreans on the local government committees is a sign that they are not interested in the children's viewpoints.
(Good.)
"Japanese are talking about how necessary it is to educate the children. But the children can also teach the Japanese a lot about Korean culture and about their own history in Korea. Local governments should make sure the children have opportunities to do so," he said. [COLOR=red](Unfortunately there are only a handful of things japanese people need to know about north korea in my eyes. The entire situation can teach them somethings. In anycase there is nothing to learn here. Unless they want to share their expiriences of being japanese prisoner in north korea. These people are talking like north korea is some type of great place. South korea is a different story but japan should be very strict when it comes to north korea and north koreans.)[COLOR]
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getart...n20040604f1.htm
It is like koreans always have to add in their two cents about things when it comes to japan. "We think this we think that". It does not matter what they think. Especially when it comes to this situation. We all know that the if it was the opposite situation both north AND SOUTH koreans would not allow these children to be japanized. Japan should not allow these children to be north koreaized. I am happy they have limited say here.