I will, thanks!
Actually, I grew up in the middle of what are Korean and Vietnamese cultural epicenters (and am a middle-class But Not Too White girl
), so... I'll still be careful, though.
I'm far from being an expert in Japanese history, but didn't those Zainichi or whatever they are called, appear first in the early 20th century? And wasn't Japan at some point isolationist until Mc Arthur knocked on the door so that Koreans immigrating to Japan would be implausible? Maybe you could have the villain's mother being a Korean sex slave who was brought to Japan as a war-trophy.
For the controversial part, there will always be some who get butthurt over the slightest controversies and as someone who doesn't think highly of political correctness I say go as wild as you please. The only unvorgivable things are Bad Writing and an immature and juvenile presentation, at least in my opinion.
edited 3rd May '11 2:58:28 AM by AdeptusAlpharius
I ♥ the VRS
1630s was when Japan went almost completely isolationist (there was limited contact with Europe through the Dutch Trading mission at Dejima in Nagasaki harbour and with China via the Ryukyu Kingdom which was a tributary to both Imperial China and the Satsuma Clan). Prior to that Japan, or during the Sengoku period certain Japanese daimyo, and Korea were is a constant state of raid and counter-raid for an extended period.
Do you specifically need a Korean to be your racial minority?
Ainu were the aborigines before the regular Japanese colonised the islands. Ainu were still there during the isolation era.
If your story requires a racial minority during the isolationist era, then Ainu is simples.
Liberty! Equality! Fraternity!The minority doesn't have to be Korean, no. Ainu - I'd remembered that, but I wasn't sure how to go about writing an Ainu-descended character - okay, time for more research!
You're right, it probably is the simplest - I'm also more familiar with Korean culture, though, than Ainu, so it was an automatic draw to it for me. I'll certainly give Ainu a go, though.
Also, there's essentially a trope for it - for the Ainu...haven't found one.
Japan invade Korea during 16th century
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_invasions_of_Korea_%281592%E2%80%931598%29
you could make the character son of Japanese Samurai who married Korean Women during invasion or alternatively pro-Japanese Korean who run to Japan.
if its just minority. Christian in Japan is a possibility. Before 1614 there is a lot of Christian in Japan.
To build off Philippe O's post, one of the interesting bits of historical trivia from the time was that during the Imjin War (last century of the 16th century), one of the Japanese generals in charge of the invasion of Korea was Catholic and forced the conversion of a number of Korean PO Ws, then took them back to Japan when the Japanese armies retreated. Just think if his family maintained the religion even after anti-Christian persecution began the following century. Ethnic minority and religious minority. Double whammy!
The Ainu have a completely different kind of interaction with the Japanese than the Koreans do though. They were never really at war or anything. They had a peaceful trading relationship all throughout the medieval era. So in that sense your discrimination doesn't make much sense.
And when Japan did destroy the Ainu it was through intermarriage and the removal of a legal difference between them. Ainu culture was destroyed by treating them as purely Japanese until most of them didn't even realize or acknowledge their heritage. That's the opposite of discrimination.
They will be discriminated if having Ainu traditional tattoo, scar or beard.
depend on the year, Ainu not always at peace with Japanese. Ainu was probably remnant of Emishi people who survive in Hokkaido. Emishi http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emishi
in Northern Honshu was destroyed in 9th century.

Meant to be Exactly What It Says on the Tin. I've finally come up with a legitimate reason for discrimination against my villain: Korean descent.
I'm aware from studying Japanese history on my own that the Japanese did try to invade Korea in the early Medieval period (possibly earlier) - would the No Koreans In Japan trope have been able to exist then, in the form of prejudice against Koreans or those of Korean descent?
I just want to know if this has any real-life basis for the time period, so I know either I can use this and I'm good or if I need to come up with something else.
Thanks!