Bilateral relations between China and Japan have deteriorated following Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's recent comments on Taiwan, yet daily life persists for Chinese children raised in Japan. Among over 800,000 Chinese residents, many children and teenagers have grown up here. One mother notes that politics and everyday life remain separate.
Bilateral relations between China and Japan have cratered in the aftermath of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent comments about Taiwan. Outside of the media furor and diplomatic hand-wringing, however, daily life continues for the more than 800,000 Chinese people who call Japan home—including many children and teenagers who have grown up here.
“Politics and daily life in Japan are very separate,” says Zhang Yinan, 36, a native of Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, who spent her childhood in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture. Zhang asked that her name be changed to protect her privacy. “Neighbors, teachers or students don’t act differently because of a spat between the two governments.”
In this context, Chinese children navigate a complex cultural terrain. Despite tensions, their education and interactions in Japanese communities shape their experiences. Zhang's account illustrates the resilience of such expatriate families.