The Convention on the Rights of the Child established by the United Nations clearly states the “prohibition of discrimination” and “protection against violence” (UN 1989). However, for political reasons, Korean schools in Japan are the only schools for foreigners that are not recognized by the Japanese government as “schools prescribed by law,” and furthermore, they do not receive any financial support from the government. Previous studies have clarified the financial situation of Korean schools and the history of struggle and creation of Korean schools (Song 2012; O2019). This study aims to clarify how ethnic education in Korean schools as a whole begins and is shaped, focusing on kindergartens, which are the starting point of ethnic education. In addition, as a research method, an ethnographic study was conducted using a long-term observation method of participation in a Korean school. This study was conducted with the approval of the Ethics Review Committee of the university to which the researcher belongs. The results of this study indicate that kindergartens routinely held a variety of activities, such as summer festival and Korean food making, in cooperation with elementary schools, junior and senior high schools, and the Korean residents community. What this study has revealed is that “Korean schools are not just schools”. It was suggested that Korean schools have become a magnetic field for the Korean residents community and a place where children attending Korean schools and Korean residents "care" for each other.

Authors:
Shohei Uchida, Ohkagakuen University, Japan

About the Presenter(s)
I am an assistant professor at Ohkagakuen University in Japan.I am currently conducting research on Korean schools in Japan.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Tuesday Schedule

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