HUMANISATION WITHOUT DEIMPERIALISATION: PORTRAYALS OF ZAINICHI KOREAN REPATRIATES IN ASAHI SHIMBUN AND NIIGATA NIPPŌ DURING 1959

Abstract

This thesis argues that humanisation of Zainichi Korean repatriates in Asahi Shimbun and Niigata Nipp?’s discussions of the Zainichi Korean repatriation to North Korea in 1959 was not accompanied by deimperialisation of Japanese attitudes towards Zainichi Koreans in most cases. Historical amnesia regarding Japanese culpability in causing Zainichi Korean suffering was evident in the editorials, column articles, commentaries, and many of the letters to the editor in both newspapers. The motivations of Asahi Shimbun and Niigata Nipp?’s editors in humanising repatriates differed greatly but they shared a common orientation towards the future of Japanese-North Korean relations. Asahi Shimbun’s motivations were more altruistic than Niigata Nipp?, which was primarily concerned with promoting compassionate treatment of the repatriates to promote trade between North Korea and Niigata city. In contrast, Asahi Shimbun’s humanisation of repatriates has roots in its sympathetic portrayal of the Zainichi Korean juvenile accused at the epicentre of the Komatsugawa Incident of 1958. Historical amnesia can also be observed in the letters of most Japanese contributors. Nonetheless, some openly criticised Japanese colonisation of Korea and argued that Japanese were obliged to support the repatriation and treat Zainichi Korean repatriates humanely. Former Japanese repatriates from colonies on the Asian continent felt a strong sense of fraternity with Zainichi Korean repatriates but did not reflect on the colonial roots of Zainichi Korean suffering either. Still, the letters by Japanese who criticised Zainichi Korean stereotypes and confronted the legacies of the Japanese empire arguably made an unhumanitarian repatriation slightly more humanitarian.