Japanese descendants left behind in Philippines ask for citizenship
People of Japanese descent in the Philippines have called on the Japanese government to do more to help them gain citizenship. They were left behind in the chaos of World War Two.
An association of Japanese descendants celebrated its 45th anniversary on Sunday in the southern city of Davao. Some of the 300 participants wore yukata -- traditional Japanese summer wear.
The group supports people born to Japanese fathers and Filipino mothers before and during the war. They struggled after their fathers died or were deported to Japan.
Even now, 49 individuals who claim their fathers were Japanese remain stateless and are seeking recognition from Tokyo. In their final years, they're trying to collect documents and testimony to prove their kinship.
Esterlita Sakue Matsuda Opena, a 93-year-old Japanese descendant, said she hopes the Japanese government will recognize her as a daughter of a Japanese man.
"I want to meet the Matsudas in Japan before I die," she said.
Minister Hanada Takahiro of the Japanese Embassy attended the event. He reiterated his government's commitment to help the descendants gain citizenship as soon as possible.
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