By Robina Asido

After over 80 years, a Nikkei-jin from Laguna will finally have a chance to meet his Japanese relatives during his five-day state funded visit to the Land of the Rising Sun this week.

Jose Takei, 82, with his son Abelino and Norihiro Inomata, the Representative Director of Philippine Nikkei-Jin Legal Support Center (PNLSC), will leave for Japan on Wednesday in a very first visit of a Nikkei-jin that is fully sponsored by the Japanese government.

Takei, who never had a chance to see his father, is also set to meet his younger Japanese brother as he will visit Japan for the first time.

"I am expecting to see my relatives there, and I am excited I hope they will accept me as their half brother as I accept them as my half brother, although I haven't met them before,"

"I want to ask my brother how he lived with my father when he was still alive, because I am jealous, I haven't had a chance to talk with my father, because when he left us I was still in my mother's womb," he added.

Aside from meeting his younger brother, Takei is also looking forward to visiting his father's grave and other beautiful places in Japan during his trip.

"I am excited, like others said it is a miracle that I will be able to visit Japan now. It is one of my long time dreams and it will finally happen now, and I'm so thankful," he said.

Takei is also thankful to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba as his visit to Japan will finally become possible three months after he personally met him during his official visit in the Philippines last April.

"He promised to help us (referring to two other Nikkei-jins who also met Ishiba last April) attain our Japanese citizenship. I am very greateful to him and I will be forever grateful," he said.

In a statement, Ambassador of Japan in the Philippines Endo Kazuya said "Takei's visit to Japan this time is part of a program supported by the Japanese government to enable Nikkei-jins to visit Japan with the aim of obtaining Japanese citizenship."

"We believe this is an extremely meaningful event. We express our deepest respect for the many years of hardship you have endured, and we sincerely hope that this visit will provide an opportunity to obtain important information about your relatives and make meaningful progress in gathering information toward obtaining citizenship," he said.

"We sincerely hope that this visit to Japan will be an important opportunity for Mr. Takei to further deepen his ties with Japan," he added.

Reiterating Ishiba's commitment during his visit in April, Endo said "the Japanese government will continue to work sincerely to ensure that NIkkei-jins can obtain Japanese citizenship as soon as possible."

"The Embassy will continue to provide as much support as possible to Mr. Takei and other Nikkei-jins. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have," he said. Robina Asido/DMS