If you have non-citizen long-term residents, perhaps many, it seems a concern if they are disenfranchised politically or civically. Zainichi. Literally "in Ja

If you have non-citizen long-term residents, perhaps many, it seems a concern if they are disenfranchised politically or civically. Zainichi. Literally "in Japan". Those who were born in Japan. Today mostly children (but increasingly grandchildren) of those who came as workers in the 80s. But some go back as far as the early 20th century. In some cases they only speak Japanese, went to Japanese schools, as did their Zainichi parents and they are partially assimilated in some communities. They marry with ethnic Japanese more as the world in general slowly sheds superstitions. But they are Korean citizens and have no rights as citizens in Japan. They and their children have been granted indefinite residency, access to social welfare and a few other things. The right to vote comes up often as a subject of debate. Japan does naturalize people who are fluent and culturally assimilated and considered promising citizens, though not a great number. Zainichi are many of those. But neither country allows dual citizenship so the other must be revoked. One must choose, as far as the historical laws and attitudes of both countries were concerned. The warming of Japan - Korea exchange (shipping if perhaps not affection) has made life easier since the countries are just... closer. Reforms in recent years to allow easier naturalization or dual residency. But it isn't fundamentally resolved. It affects Korea too in ways: should the Zainichi have the right to vote in Korean elections? Now this is perhaps a policy that can sustain if such a population isn't already resident. Otherwise you get a disenfranchised population. Usually a rather small minority, at least at first. I know to some degree it is my cultural bias and blinders but this doesn't seem like a great social dynamic to have emerge.