Translating into Español. The English version is shown until it is ready.
Komeito leader Okamoto discloses he is a third-generation Korean resident
En breve
Komeito leader Okamoto said he was born in Japan as a third-generation Korean resident and acquired Japanese nationality when he graduated from university. He set out his background in a YouTube video distributed on Oct 3 and answered reporters' questions at the Diet on Oct 5, where he cited the timing of taking on the party leadership and online defamation over his nationality, according to Livedoor News. He said he loves Japan and wants to keep living there.
Leer la noticia completa 2 min de lectura
Komeito leader Okamoto was born in Japan as a third-generation Korean resident and acquired Japanese nationality when he graduated from university, according to reports by Sankei Shimbun, Livedoor News and Tokyo Shimbun. Tokyo Shimbun published a photograph caption showing Okamoto answering reporters' questions at the Diet on the afternoon of Oct 5. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
In a YouTube video distributed on Oct 3, Okamoto said his grandparents emigrated from Korea and had already died by the time he was born, that he was born in Saga Prefecture in Showa 40 and grew up there, attending public elementary, junior high and high schools before going to a university in Tokyo. “I have lived normally in the Japanese community with a Japanese sense of things, and I love Japan and want to keep living in Japan, so I acquired Japanese nationality at the timing of my university graduation,” he said, according to Sankei Shimbun. Livedoor News reported him saying that he loves Japan and thought he would go on living in Japan. [ 1 , 2 ]
Okamoto also spoke to reporters at the Diet on Oct 5. “Now that I have taken on the responsibility of party leader, I want to convey as much as I can at this timing,” Livedoor News quoted him as saying. He also cited online defamation about his nationality as a reason for going public, that outlet reported. [ 2 ]
Sankei Shimbun reported that Okamoto said he cannot speak Korean, that he first visited Korea in his late 30s on a business trip and has been there about three or four times in his life, and that his parents also do not speak Korean. Livedoor News identified the financial firm he worked for as Goldman Sachs. According to the two reports, Okamoto graduated from Soka University, moved from the financial firm into politics, first won a Lower House seat in 2012 and is in his sixth term, or 15 years, in the Diet. [ 1 , 2 ]
The reports differ on when the disclosure was first made: Sankei Shimbun described it as coming in the YouTube video distributed on Oct 3, while Livedoor News said Okamoto disclosed it to reporters on Oct 5 and referred back to the Oct 3 program. Livedoor News also reported that he was formally elected Komeito leader at the party convention on Oct 3. [ 1 , 2 ]
Por qué importa
Okamoto is the leader of Komeito, and he said he went public after taking on the party's top post, which makes his background part of how he presents himself in that role. He also cited online defamation over his nationality as a reason for speaking out, according to Livedoor News. The documents describe no consequence for party policy or for the government.
Datos clave
- Okamoto was born a third-generation Korean resident in Japan; his grandparents emigrated from Korea. [ 1 , 2 ]
- He acquired Japanese nationality when he graduated from university. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- He was born in Saga Prefecture in Showa 40 and lived there until he went to university in Tokyo. [ 1 , 2 ]
- He said he loves Japan and wants to keep living in Japan. [ 1 , 2 ]
- He said he cannot speak Korean, and that his parents also do not speak it, according to Sankei Shimbun. [ 1 ]
- He graduated from Soka University, worked at a major US financial firm and first won a Lower House seat in 2012; he is in his sixth term, or 15 years, in the Diet. [ 1 , 2 ]
- He was formally elected Komeito leader at the party convention on Oct 3, Livedoor News reported. [ 2 ]
Confirmado por varias fuentes
- Okamoto is Komeito's leader and publicly stated that he is a third-generation Korean resident in Japan who acquired Japanese nationality at university graduation. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- He explained his background in a YouTube video distributed on Oct 3 and also spoke to reporters at the Diet on Oct 5. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Aún sin aclarar
- When Okamoto first made the disclosure public. Sankei Shimbun describes the disclosure as made in the YouTube video distributed on Oct 3, while Livedoor News says he disclosed it to reporters on Oct 5 and refers back to the Oct 3 program; Tokyo Shimbun reports a Diet press appearance on Oct 5.
- Whether Okamoto speaks Korean. Only Sankei Shimbun reports that he cannot speak Korean and that his parents also do not; no other document addresses it.
- His reasons for going public. Livedoor News says he cited the timing of becoming party leader and online defamation over his nationality; the other documents give no reason.
- The full text of Tokyo Shimbun's report. Only the headline and a photograph caption were readable; the article body was not available.
- He was born in Saga Prefecture and lived there through high school. Reported by a single source so far
- He said he loves Japan and intends to continue living in Japan. Reported by a single source so far
- He is in his sixth term in the Diet, having first been elected to the House of Representatives in 2012. Reported by a single source so far
- He worked at a major US financial firm before entering politics. Reported by a single source so far
Qué dicen los medios locales
Cronología, hora local
- Sankei Shimbun reports that Okamoto said, in a YouTube video distributed on Oct 3, that he was born a third-generation Korean resident in Japan and acquired Japanese nationality when he graduated from university. [ 1 ]
- Livedoor News reports that Okamoto told reporters at the Diet that he was disclosing his background because he had taken on the responsibility of party leader and wanted to convey what he could, and that he also cited online defamation over his nationality. [ 2 ]
- Tokyo Shimbun publishes its report, with a photograph caption of Okamoto responding to reporters' questions at the Diet that afternoon. [ 3 ]