Ethnicity and Activism In East Asia

This panel examines how ethnicity has served as a driving force for activism in postcolonial space. In East Asia, the end of World War II signaled the decolonization of the Korean Peninsula, yet for Korean residents in Japan or Ryukyuans/Okinawans and the Ainu, colonialism persisted in their everyday lives. It was not until long after the end of the war that the Japanese government reckoned with the scars caused by war and colonialism. The end of the Cold War marked the liberation of suppressed memories, bringing issues such as the “comfort women” and forced labor into sharp focus. In particular, the Japanese and South Korean society have seen a surge in transnational activism reexamining colonialism. This panel aims to clarify the significance of the multifaceted and multidirectional practices of activism that underlie the Japanese society and Japan-Korean relations. How has ethnicity shaped activism in East Asia, or has it exposed the limitations of activism? This panel focuses on: (1) activism that has shed light on the experiences of Koreans who suffered from the atomic bombing in Nagasaki; (2) the Japan-Korea friendship movement led by a Zainichi Korean historian; (3) Zainichi Korean’s protests against mandatory fingerprinting; (4) Korean Women’s activism in the movement supporting Korean schools in Japan; (5) and the contested concept of indigeneity in Japan. This panel will explore the range of possibilities and limitations of activism driven by ethnicity and examine future prospects for activism in Japan and South Korea in turbulent times.