Zainichi Koreans and Mental Health: Psychiatric Problem in Japanese Korean Minorities, Their Social Background and Life Story

Kim investigates how conflicting identities and social marginalization affect the mental health of members of the ethnic Korean minority living in Japan, who are mainly descendants of immigrants who came to Japan during the colonial period in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They face challenges such as ethnic education, discrimination, and the impacts on their mental health.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 118 pages
Publication date: 25 September 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Kim conducts a qualitative, interview-based study to investigate the impact of conflicting identities and social marginalization on the mental health of members of the ethnic Korean minority living in Japan. So-called "Zainichi" Koreans, who reside in Japan, have a significantly higher suicide rate compared to native Japanese and other ethnic groups in Japan. This is despite Japan having one of the highest suicide rates globally. These individuals, who consider themselves neither fully Korean nor entirely Japanese, are primarily descendants of immigrants who arrived in Japan during the late 19th and early 20th centuries during the colonial period. Kim delves into the various challenges faced by these individuals, including the complexities of ethnic education, discrimination they encounter from mainstream society, and the subsequent effects on their mental well-being. This research is of significant interest to scholars studying Japanese culture and society, as well as anthropologists and sociologists interested in examining the impacts of marginalization on ethnic minority citizens more broadly.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032010830