Girl chooses Japan over parents "A teenager in Japan whose parents are being deported to the Philippines has decided to stay in Tokyo with her aunt. After the family lost a three-year battle to remain in Japan, Noriko Calderon, 13, had to choose whether to stay in Japan or go with her parents." BBC News, 14 April 2009.
Schoolgirl told to choose: Country or parents Watch an interview with Noriko and her parents as they pack in preparation for the parents' deportation back to the Philippines. CNN, 13 April, 2009.
Calderon resumes classes as parents prep for deportation " Filipino girl whose parents face deportation Monday started her second year at a local junior high school Wednesday prior to her parents’ departure for the Philippines." Japan Times, 9 Apr, 2009.
A young life in legal limbo This article by David McNeill explains some of the background to Noriko's case, including a stricter approach taken to undocumented foreign workers from 2003, different views about Noriko's case, and the wider debate about immigration in Japan. Japan Times, 10 Feb, 2009.
The sad story of Noriko Calderon: Some painful lessons in illegal migration WASHINGTON D.C., United States?There are many reasons why Filipinos and citizens of other economically struggling countries migrate to the United States, Japan, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, and Australia, just to name a few. These immigrants, whether legal or illegal, believe that greener pastures await them in those countries. Global Nation, 15, Apr, 2009.
Oki "When I realised the origin of my blood, I knew this blood was going to be burning" says Oki, "but first I had to find out how to make it burn". With the release of his second album, "Hankapuy", it's clear that Oki, a musician of mixed Japanese and Ainu (indigenous Japanese) blood has come a long way on his own personal journey and in the process has created a startling album. Far Side Music.
Oki is an Ainu Japanese musician. Wikipedia.
Ainu musician Oki brings the world to Hokkaido An interview with Oki, a musician with a Japanese mother and an Ainu father, whose band, the Oki Dub Ainu Band, mix Ainu music with reggae, dub and other world musics. Japan Times, Aug. 28, 2008.
'I want to make Japan a better place to live': Korean nurse blocked from promotion by Tokyo vows to fight on This article explains Chong's thinking about her situation and her life as a Zainichi Korean. Japan Times, 1 Feb, 2005.
Ruling rejects 'nationality' suit "The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that the Tokyo Metropolitan Government was not wrong in barring a resident Korean health worker from applying for a managerial post." This article describes the background to the case. Asahi Shinbun, 27 Jan, 2005.
Being Ainu for Mina Sakai, leader of the “Ainu Rebels”. Mina Sakai (酒井美奈), leader of the group Ainu Rebelsand cultural advisor working for the Foundation of Research and Promotion of Ainu culture (アイヌ文化振興・研究推進機構), explained what “being Ainu” means to her in a conference held at the Ainu Culture Center in Tokyo, on the 16th of January. This article explains a little about Sakai's life, her attitudes to being Aiu and Ainu culture, and the band she formed, the Ainu rebels, which mixed traditional Ainu music and dance with pop music hip hop. Hawehe - Ainu Voices.
Watch this short video report about the Ainu Rebels which includes an interview with Mina Sakai. TITV, 27 Aug, 2008.
Masayoshi Son A Wikipedia article that explains a little about Son's Korean background and why his family adopted a Japanese name.
How Sprint’s new boss lost $70 billion of his own cash (and still stayed rich): The strange tale of Masayoshi Son the "Bill Gates of Japan." The story of Son's rise to success, with some information about his zainichi Korean family background. ars technic, 16 Oct, 2012.
Japan's Masayoshi Son Picks a Fight With U.S. Phone Giants A biography of Son that discusses his background a a poor Zainichi Koran and suggest he went to the US at 16 to escape discrimination in Japan. Wall Strett Journal, 23 Nov, 2012.
Japan's trial run for migrant workers This article looks at Japanese-Brazilian Nikkeijin in Hamamatsu and tells the story of Flavia who went to a top university in Tokyo even though she was told by her teacher when she was 10 that she had no future in Japan. BBC News.
Helping Brazilian kids master local life:Japanese-Brazilian Tetsuyoshi Kodama proudly serves as a bridge between communities Tetsuyoshi Kodama, a second-generation Japanese-Brazilian, became the first foreign national to pass the taxi driver test in Shizuoka Prefecture in 1991. The Japan Times.
Decade-long wait takes toll on asylum seeker:Periods in detention, 10 years in legal limbo leave Iranian with mental, physical scars Most foreigners in Japan know the horror of waiting for a residency permit or visa. A few hours in the queue at the Shinagawa immigration office can feel like a lifetime. The Japan Times.
Justice stalled in brutal death of deportee: Autopsy suggests immigration officers used excessive force in restraining Ghanaian Abubakar Awudu Suraj had been in Japan for over two decades when immigration authorities detained him in May 2009. The Ghanaian was told in Yokohama of his deportation to Ghana at 9:15 a.m. on March 22 last year. Six hours later he was dead, allegedly after being excessively restrained by guards. The Japan Times.
NEW Added May 04, 2014 Officials faulted in death of Ghanaian: Court rules immigration used 'Illegal' force on deportee In a landmark verdict, the Tokyo District Court on Wednesday ruled that immigration officials were responsible for the death of Abubakar Awudu Suraj, a Ghanaian man who had overstayed his via they were forcibly deporting in 2010. Japan Times, March 19, 2014.
NEW Added May 04, 2014 Campaign by the Asian People's Friendship Society in support of compensation from the state in the case of the death of Suraj.
Despair engulfs Pakistani asylum seekersRefugee family victim of Japan's politicized immigration policies? In a ramshackle Yokohama house smelling of damp and rotting wood, Nasir Qadri and his family await their fate.The Pakistani national, his wife, Shaheena, and their five children are asylum seekers who arrived in Japan on Aug. 25, 2009. But although they have survived the March 11 quake and months of hand to mouth existence, they are in despair and threatening suicide. The Japan Times.
Refugee pines to go back to, help Myanmar:NLD activist desperate to aid reforms torn by family commitments in Japan When Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi announced her trust in President Thein Sein last August, Tin Win Akbar decided it was time to return home after spending almost 16 years as an exile in Japan. The Japan Times.
Foreign permanent residents on rise, filling gaps She now runs an elevator maintenance company in Tokyo with 25 employees and annual turnover of 500 million yen. She is also a practicing Chinese lawyer and consults with Japanese companies looking to expand business in China.
Indian works to serve expat enclave: From provider to guarantor to provisioner to educator, tea merchant turns Nishi Kasai into hub 33 years ago, Jagmohan Chandrani was one of the first Indians to arrive in Nishi Kasai, now the main Indian community in Japan. He runs Japan Business Services, specializing in import and sales of Indian black tea, as well as two Indian restaurants, and is also involved with local Indian international schools and plans to build an Indian temple. Japan Times, 8 Feb, 2011.
Celebrating black Americans in Yamanashi "American diplomat Ayanna Hobbs is a dynamo of energy and enthusiasm. She’s just finished her weekly Japanese class, and thinks it the most amazing coincidence that her wonderful teacher happens to be from Yamanashi, the prefecture that lies so close to her heart." Japan Times, Feb 2, 2008 .