Sangokujin

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Sangokujin (Japanese: 三国人; "third country national") is a Japanese term referring to colonial nationals of Taiwan (Taiwanese aboriginal), Korea and China. The original usage of the term is said to be coined to establish separate political identity of ex-colonial nationals especially Korean from victorious American and defeated Japan.

The idea is occasionally seen in the English media that "sangokujin" refers to zainichi Koreans keep staying in Japan after the World War II and the Korean War with "special permit of permanent residency" (特別永住資格, see also ja:特別永住者) which is nearly equal status to Japanese citizenship except suffrage and koseki-related rights. Although it is generally true, it should also apply to colonial subjects from Taiwan and those who voluntarily migrated to Japan before and after World War II. The treatment of Koreans who fought within the Japanese Army is partially the reason why Koreans asserted the third national identity.

The term was commonly used by older Japanese but much younger Japanese hardly recognise the term. However, when the controversial governor of Tokyo Shintaro Ishihara used the term to presume in a public statement that crimes would be committed by ethnic Chinese and Koreans, the term was brought into Japanese media again.