"I Am Japanese": The Forgotten Children Japan Abandoned in the Philippines for 80 Years Since WWII

Second-generation Japanese descendants left in the Philippines after World War II, separated from their Japanese fathers by the war, remain stateless to this day. The report examines the postwar history of how the Japanese government has handled their case and argues that a line was drawn determining which of those left behind would be rescued. It also includes an interview with a former Ministry of Health and Welfare official responsible at the time. A Supreme Court ruling on the rejected application to restore Japanese nationality is said to be approaching.

• Second-generation Japanese descendants in the Philippines left behind after WWII
• Postwar Japanese government policy and the line that decided who was rescued
• Interview with the Ministry of Health and Welfare official responsible at the time
• Pending Supreme Court ruling on a rejected nationality restoration application

Was the rejection of an application to restore Japanese nationality “unconstitutional”? The day of the Supreme Court’s ruling is drawing near. Separated from their Japanese fathers by the war, second-generation Japanese descendants left behind in the Philippines remain “stateless” to this day. As 81 years pass since the end of the war, why have they still not been offered a helping hand? Tracing the postwar history of how the Japanese government has dealt with this issue reveals that it drew a “line” determining which of those left behind would be rescued. Why did their fates diverge? We tracked down the Ministry of Health and Welfare official responsible at the time. ※本作は、世界に向けた英語版特別配信です