Kido’s Conflict with His Zainichi Identity

A Man

Kido’s private sense of himself collides with public racism, family protection, and the question of who bears responsibility for xenophobia.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

A Quiet Background A Quiet Background from "A Man". Growing Up in Kanazawa Little direct hostility Kido grows up largely without overt discrimination and naturalizes as a Japanese citizen in high school.

A Quiet Background from "A Man". Growing Up in Kanazawa Little direct hostility Kido grows up largely without overt discrimination and naturalizes as a Japanese citizen in high school.

Growing Up in Kanazawa Little direct hostility Kido grows up largely without overt discrimination and naturalizes as a Japanese citizen in high school. A distant inheritance His parents’ few conversations about ethnicity leave him aware of his background but not fully connected to its history.

The Online Attack The Online Attack from "A Man". A Personal Target A photograph exposed Kido discovers that a childhood image and details about his family have been posted beside racist accusations and slurs.

The Online Attack from "A Man". A Personal Target A photograph exposed Kido discovers that a childhood image and details about his family have been posted beside racist accusations and slurs.

A Personal Target A photograph exposed Kido discovers that a childhood image and details about his family have been posted beside racist accusations and slurs. A bodily reaction He feels his sense of continuity draining away. The attack makes prejudice more than an abstract public issue.

History Returns to Yokohama History Returns to Yokohama from "A Man". Fear in the Present A massacre remembered Reports of the 1923 massacre of Koreans make Kido imagine what could happen to his family during a future disaster.

History Returns to Yokohama from "A Man". Fear in the Present A massacre remembered Reports of the 1923 massacre of Koreans make Kido imagine what could happen to his family during a future disaster.

Fear in the Present A massacre remembered Reports of the 1923 massacre of Koreans make Kido imagine what could happen to his family during a future disaster. The citizen’s dilemma He feels both vulnerable as Zainichi and implicated as a Japanese citizen. Neither position cancels the other.

A Conversation at Sunny A Conversation at Sunny from "A Man". Takagi’s Prejudice A casual remark At Sunny, Takagi speculates about North Korean agents and makes broad claims about Koreans.

A Conversation at Sunny from "A Man". Takagi’s Prejudice A casual remark At Sunny, Takagi speculates about North Korean agents and makes broad claims about Koreans.

Takagi’s Prejudice A casual remark At Sunny, Takagi speculates about North Korean agents and makes broad claims about Koreans. Kido corrects his conflation of North and South Korea. A guarded response Kido feels anger but also fears Misuzu may follow the conversation into a slur. His restraint reveals how much the subject has begun to cost him.

Misuzu Takes the Demonstration

Support Becomes Visible A promise fulfilled Misuzu attends counter-demonstrations against hate speech after telling Kido she would go in his place. Kido reconsiders Seeing her on television, Kido recognizes that support is not a favor performed for him but a response to people under threat.

Kido’s childhood and adolescence

After the 2011 earthquake

2012–2013

Early 2013

Late 2013