Pachinko to Pap: The Deep Wounds of Colonialism

Healing the heart of a painful history

Photo by Carl Kho on Unsplash

The history of Japan and Korea.

I recently finished Pachinko, a historical novel by Min Jin Lee that chronicles the struggles of a Korean family who migrates to Japan in 1933. The story paints a vivid picture of the racism, systemic prejudice, stereotyping, and economic discrimination Koreans faced in Japan, offering a deeply emotional portrayal of the enduring effects of colonization.

Japan’s colonization of Korea, which began in 1910 and lasted until 1945, was a brutal process of assimilation. Koreans were forced to abandon their names and language, becoming subjects of a colonial machine designed to erase their identity. Many migrated to Japan in search of better economic opportunities, especially during World War II, when thousands were conscripted to fight for the Japanese empire.

Yet, even after the war, the Japanese government’s deeply ingrained view of Koreans as inferior continued. Post-war, Koreans were classified as Zainichi — foreigners living in Japan on temporary visas. The 1950 Nationality Law solidified this status, stating only children of Japanese nationals could claim citizenship.

Although Pachinko is a work of fiction, it brings to light the relentless…