Japanese War Orphans: Abandoned Twice by the State

After Japan's defeat in August 1945, some Japanese children were abandoned in China and raised by Chinese foster parents. They were unable to return to Japan even during the mass repatriation carried out by the Japanese government in the 1950s. They are called Japanese war orphans and have been exploited and abandoned by the Japanese government. They are also border people who have lived in the interstices between two nations, China and Japan, and are migrants who have exploited the gap in economic development between Japan and China to seek individual happiness. This interview-based sociological study of the issue of Japanese war orphans brings to the fore the dramatic personal histories of the Japanese war orphans surviving in the interstices between two nation-states. It makes three points: the powerlessness of civilians caught up in modern warfare, the nature of the modern nation-state, and immigration as a product of modernization gaps. Scholars pursuing studies in both Japanese society & Chinese society and historians of the Sino-Japanese war would find this an ideal read.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

After Japan's defeat in August 1945, a significant number of Japanese children found themselves abandoned in China and taken in by Chinese foster parents. Despite the mass repatriation efforts undertaken by the Japanese government in the 1950s, these children were unable to return to their homeland. The majority of them eventually returned to Japan in the 1980s, known as Japanese war orphans. Their lives have been profoundly shaped by the Sino-Japanese War, which left them victims of exploitation and abandonment by the Japanese government. Furthermore, they exist as border people, having lived in the interstices between China and Japan, and as migrants who have taken advantage of the economic disparities between the two nations to pursue their own personal happiness.

Modern East Asia experienced a seismic shift in society, which had far-reaching consequences for the Japanese war orphans and their families. To explore this complex issue, Zhong conducted in-depth interviews with Japanese war orphans, their Chinese foster parents, and Japanese volunteers. The result is a captivating sociological study that delves into the personal histories of these orphans, who spent their early years in China before relocating to Japan. Through their narratives, the research highlights the powerlessness of civilians caught in the midst of modern warfare and the enduring impact of such conflicts on individuals and their families. It also sheds light on the nature of the modern nation-state, which often treats its citizens as expendable, and immigration as a product of the gaps in modernization between different countries.

The study makes three important observations: Firstly, it emphasizes the vulnerability of civilians in times of war, as they become pawns in the geopolitical struggles of nations. Secondly, it critiques the exploitative nature of the modern nation-state, which disregards the well-being and rights of its citizens. Lastly, it sheds light on immigration as a response to the disparities in economic development and opportunities across nations. By examining the issue of Japanese war orphans, this research contributes to our understanding of the complex social dynamics and historical legacies of modern East Asia. It serves as a reminder of the importance of empathy, compassion, and social justice in addressing the challenges faced by vulnerable populations, particularly those caught in the crossfire of war and globalization.

Weight: 460g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032138206