Sangokujin

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Sangokujin (Third-country national)

Overview
Sangokujin is a Japanese term that literally means “third-country person.” It was used after World War II to refer to Koreans and Taiwanese who had lived in Japan as subjects of the Empire of Japan. The term could also include Ryukyuan people. Today, it is considered old-fashioned and offensive.

Concept and history
After Japan’s defeat, the legal status of Koreans and Taiwanese in Japan was unclear. Some people from liberated areas believed they were no longer under Japanese rule, which helped create underprivileged communities and black markets in the postwar period. The term Sangokujin was sometimes linked to crime in media coverage, and people often used it to describe these groups.

Rise, decline, and controversy
As Japan stabilized, Sangokujin drifted from common use. Its name resurgence came in 2000 when Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara used the term in a speech about potential actions by the Japanese Self-Defense Forces in a disaster. The speech sparked debate about political correctness and the legacy of colonialism. Ishihara later said he did not intend offense and stopped using the word.

See also
- Gaikokujin (foreigners in Japan)
- Zainichi (Korean residents in Japan)
- Ethnic slurs
- Japanese nationalism

Note
The term Sangokujin is now widely viewed as inappropriate or insulting when referring to people from Korea, Taiwan, or related groups living in Japan. Use respectful, neutral language when discussing these communities.