Masamori Tokuyama's nationality?

Les Darcy · Post by **Les Darcy** » 27 Dec 2005, 21:57

i was just reading his record on boxrec and noticed that he is North Korean nationality but was born and lives in Japan? I was just wondering how he is classed as North Korean if he is born and lives in Japan?

Petu v.d. Pajm · Post by **Petu v.d. Pajm** » 28 Dec 2005, 02:20

As 2nd World War ended, few 100,000s Koreans were left in Japan. They were not (and still have not been) granted Japanese citizenship, but instead had to apply for a Korean citizenship from either PDR or Republic. A vast majority selected the PDR (North Korea) option. The descendants of these Koreans still held their North Korean passports and have f ex a kind of sovereign school system inside Japan sponsored by North Korean government.

As they are a poorer and somewhat secluded "caste" of Japanese society, the socio-economical factors have resulted a lot of boxers coming out of this Korean minority. However, until Masamori Tokuyama there hadn't been a single case of high-profile fighter publicly showing North Korean flag and claiming his roots in that minority. Most have fought as Japanese to win a wider popularity among fans.

Petu v.d. Pajm · Post by **Petu v.d. Pajm** » 28 Dec 2005, 02:33

For more information on this issue :

http://www.han.org/a/fukuoka96a.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zainichi_Korean

Petu v.d. Pajm · Post by **Petu v.d. Pajm** » 28 Dec 2005, 07:14

[quote="Petu v.d. Pajm"]As 2nd World War ended, few 100,000s Koreans were left in Japan. They were not (and still have not been) granted Japanese citizenship, but instead had to apply for a Korean citizenship from either PDR or Republic. A vast majority selected the PDR (North Korea) option. The descendants of these Koreans still held their North Korean passports and have f ex a kind of sovereign school system inside Japan sponsored by North Korean government.

As they are a poorer and somewhat secluded "caste" of Japanese society, the socio-economical factors have resulted a lot of boxers coming out of this Korean minority. However, until Masamori Tokuyama there hadn't been a single case of high-profile fighter publicly showing North Korean flag and claiming his roots in that minority. Most have fought as Japanese to win a wider popularity among fans.[/quote]

I was slightly wrong with above text (based on what I have read from newspapers) as majority has South Korean citizenship and the rest have no actual citizenship as Japan does not recognise North Korea and these people have refused to accept the division of Korea as more than one nation.

However, the minority which is most apart from Japanese society (including separate schools) are the ones recognised as "North Koreans" and they number about 250,000. Masamori Tokuyama is one of them.

Les Darcy · Post by **Les Darcy** » 28 Dec 2005, 08:13

information much appreciated, thank you very much