By Robina Asido

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba conveyed his intention to support Nikkei-jins in the Philippines in obtaining their Japanese citizenship as he met three of them during his official visit in Manila on Tuesday.

It is the first time that a Japanese Prime Minister has met Nikkei-jins in the Philippines since the visit of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2017.

Ishiba and the members of his delegation, together with officials from Japan Embassy in the Philippines led by Ambassador Endo Kazuya met with Sakue Matsuda from Davao Region, Jose Takei from Laguna and Carlos Teraoka from Northern Luzon, the children of Japanese nationals who were left in the country by their father before and during the Second World War.

After talking with Ishiba, Takei said he gained more confidence that their application to acquire their Japanese citizenship will be done soon.

"I told the Japanese Prime Minister that (I want) my Japanese citizenship to be approved as soon as possible as early as possible because I am not getting any younger anymore and I think the Prime Minister was seriously listening to my request to him," he said.

"Yes, not unlike before that I haven’t met him, I think he is sincere enough," Takei stressed.

"He told me that he will do everything so that my Japanese citizenship will be approved, he will help me," he added.

Takei who started his application to obtain his Japanese citizenship around 15 years ago said that he is "waiting for this moment" to meet Ishiba.

"I have been waiting for this moment so that the PM will hear my problem. When I was a child during elementary days my classmates bullied me knowing that I was the son of a Japanese national, so I was hiding my identity during those days. I think he is serious enough to help me solve my problem," he said.

Matsuda, who travelled from Tagum City in Davao Del Norte, also expressed her trust and confidence that her meeting with Ishiba will help her achieve her Japanese citizenship.

"I wish to be a Japanese citizen so that my children can go to Japan," she said.

Matsuda, who described Ishiba as a kind person, said that the Prime Minister was listening to her during their meeting and felt sorry for her situation (of being stateless).

Teraoka, who is from the Filipino-Japanese Foundation of Northern Luzon, Inc. said that there are 49 Nikkei-jins in the Philippines who are seeking to obtain their Japanese citizenship.

"I believe they (the Japanese government) will work to restore Japanese nationality. There are only 49 left. I said that I want them to recover the nationality of the 49 people as soon as possible. It is difficult to gather document evidence because it is 80 years ago," he said.

In response to their request, Teraoka said Ishiba stressed that the Japanese government will "make it possible to move forward as soon as possible." DMS