Filipino-Japanese seeks Japanese nationality

An 82-year-old second-generation Filipino-Japanese man, Jose Takei, visited Japan for the first time, sharing his experiences as a descendant of Japanese soldiers left behind after World War II. Takei, who has never met his Japanese father, spoke at a symposium in Tokyo, expressing his desire to become a Japanese national and advocating for peace. He shared his childhood struggles with discrimination due to his Japanese heritage. Currently, 49 second-generation survivors in the Philippines wish to regain Japanese nationality, with ongoing efforts to locate relatives supported by the government.