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Zainichi

Koreans in Japan
在日韓国・朝鮮人
Total population
855,725
Regions with significant populations
Tokyo (Shin-Ōkubo) · Osaka Prefecture
Languages
Japanese · Korean (Zainichi Korean)
Religion
Buddhism · Christianity · Irreligion
Related ethnic groups
Korean people
Terms for Koreans in Japan
Holding Japanese nationality
Hangul 한국계 일본인
조선계 일본인
Hanja 韓國系日本人
朝鮮系日本人
Revised Romanization Hangukgye Ilbonin
Joseongye Ilbonin
McCune-Reischauer Hangukkye Ilbonin
Chosŏngye Ilbonin
Kanji 韓国系日本人
朝鮮系日本人
Rōmaji Kankokukei Nihonjin
Chōsenkei Nihonjin
Holding North Korean nationality
Hangul 재일조선인
Hanja 在日朝鮮人
Revised Romanization Jaeil Joseonin
McCune-Reischauer Chae'il Chosŏnin
Kanji 在日朝鮮人
Rōmaji Zainichi Chōsenjin
Holding South Korean nationality
Hangul 재일한국인
Hanja 在日韓國人
Revised Romanization Jaeil Hangugin
McCune-Reischauer Chae'il Hankugin
Kanji 在日韓国人
Rōmaji Zainichi Kankokujin
Regardless of nationality (in Korea)
Hangul 재일동포/재일교포
Hanja 在日同胞/在日僑胞
Revised Romanization Jaeil Dongpo
Jaeil Gyopo
McCune-Reischauer Chae'il Tongpo
Chae'il Kyopo
Regardless of nationality (in Japan)
Kanji 在日コリアン
Rōmaji Zainichi Korian
Legal alias
Japanese name
Kanji 通名
Korean name
Chosŏn'gŭl 통명
Hancha 通名

Koreans in Japan (在日韓国人・在日本朝鮮人・朝鮮人, Zainichi-Kankoku-Jin or Zainihonchosenjin or Chōsen-jin) comprise ethnic Koreans who have permanent residency status in Japan, or who have become Japanese citizens, and whose immigration to Japan originated before 1945, or who are descendents of those immigrants. They are a distinct group compared to South Korean nationals who have travelled to Japan for the sole purpose of employment or study.

They currently constitute the second largest ethnic minority group in Japan. The majority of Koreans in Japan are Zainichi Koreans (在日韓国人, Zainichi Kankokujin), often known simply as Zainichi (在日, "Japan resident"), who are the permanent ethnic Korean residents of Japan. The term "Zainichi Korean" refers only to long-term Korean residents of Japan who trace their roots to Korea under Japanese rule, distinguishing them from the later wave of Korean migrants who came mostly in the 1980s, and from pre-modern immigrants dating back to antiquity.

The Japanese word "Zainichi" itself means a foreign citizen "staying in Japan" and implies temporary residence. Nevertheless, the term "Zainichi Korean" is used to describe settled permanent residents of Japan, both those who have retained either their Joseon or South Korean/North Korean nationalities, and even sometimes, but not always, includes Japanese citizens of Korean descent who acquired Japanese nationality by naturalization or by birth from one or both parents who have Japanese citizenship.

In 2014, there were over 855,725 ethnic Koreans resident in Japan.

People from the Korean peninsula have immigrated to Japan since prehistory, but pre-modern immigrants do not form a separate group.

In the ice age, Japan was connected to mainland Asia by at least one land bridge and was peopled by nomads from the mainland (see History of the Japanese people). In late prehistory, in the Iron Age Yayoi period (300 BC to 300 AD), Japanese culture shows some Korean influence, though whether this was accompanied by immigration from Korea is debated (see Origin of the Yayoi people). In the later Kofun period (250–538) and Asuka period (538–710) there was some flow of people from the Korean peninsula, both as immigrants and long-term visitors, notably a number of clans in the Kofun period (see Kofun period#Korean migration). While some families today can ultimately trace their ancestry to the immigrants, they were absorbed into Japanese society and are not considered a distinct group.


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