Representations of Zainichi Koreans in Japanese Media: The Case of The Japan Times 2000–2014

Abstract

Zainichi Koreans are Korean nationals, permanently living in Japan without holding Japanese citizenship. Their living conditions there have been difficult from the very beginning, dating back to 1910. Since then, various myths and stereotypes were created about Zainichi Koreans. What is more interesting, media has been playing an important role in spreading information about them and creating a specific image about this ethnic minority in Japan. In order to find out what image of Zainichi Koreans is being created nowadays, articles in Japanese internet news website The Japan Times were used while accomplishing a discourse analysis.