5 days ago
Japanese descendant in Philippines voices ahead of Japan visit
A person of Japanese descent left behind in the Philippines at the end of World War Two has expressed hope ahead of his first trip to Japan. The trip is being sponsored by a Japanese government program for people in the Philippines born to Japanese fathers before and during the war.
Takei Jose, one of the descendants, held a press conference in Manila on Tuesday. Takei is one of about 50 stateless people in the Philippines who claim Japanese parentage. They are seeking recognition by Tokyo.
Takei plans to go to Osaka to visit his relatives and his father's grave. Takei said he hopes that he can visit the place where his father was born. It's been his longtime dream to go to Japan.
The 82-year-old was born to a Japanese father who worked as an engineer and a Filipino mother. But his father went missing before he was born.
When Takei met with Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru in April in Manila, he called for more help for descendants like himself. Ishiba said he would work to ensure that they would obtain Japanese nationality and a visit to Japan as soon as possible.
Takei visited his mother's grave to tell her about his first trip to Japan, which begins on Wednesday. The cost of the trip is being covered by the government program for descendants.
