Roots tourism is gaining popularity in Japan as overseas descendants of Japanese seek to explore their family history and traditions. Lea-Anne Domae, a third-generation Japanese Canadian, grew up with little connection to Japan but is now tracing her heritage.
Roots tourism is picking up momentum in Japan, with more overseas residents of Japanese descent eager to delve into their family history, heritage, and traditions. This trend ties into themes of immigration, ethnicity, the nikkei community, and koseki family registers.
Lea-Anne Domae, a 53-year-old federal government employee living in Canada's British Columbia, is a third-generation Japanese Canadian. Her parents, who endured internment during World War II, were determined to raise their children in a Western style. "We had no ties to Japan or any relatives in Japan," she said. "It's hard to know if they did it intentionally, but (my parents) were very much determined to assimilate into the culture ... so we grew up in a completely westernized home."
People like Domae are increasingly visiting Japan to trace their origins. Given the wartime experiences that shaped family identities, this form of tourism offers not just personal discovery but also a chance for historical reconciliation.
