Palau Sakura Kai

Abstract

Palauans of Japanese ancestry – those born to Japanese fathers and Palauan mothers during the Japanese administration era – experienced catastrophic social change after the Pacific War. Upon Japanese repatriation from Micronesia after the war, most Palauans of Japanese ancestry were left behind with their mothers. They spent their lives as Palauans, but other Palauans occasionally insulted them with the loanwords from Japanese, such as konketsu (mixed-bloods), Nikkei (ethic Japanese), and ainoko (mixed-bloods). Partly in response to this discrimination, Palauans of Japanese ancestry established the Palau Sakura Kai (Palau Cherry Blossom Association), a voluntary association designed to provide mutual aid and reconstruct their relationship with Japan by welcoming Japanese visitors. In spite of their nostalgic narratives towards the Japanese administration era, these Palauans of Japanese ancestry have never forgotten the issues of colonialism and imperialism. Rather, they have been forced to reflect on their ambivalent positionality when they are discriminated against by other Palauans or labelled as pro-Japanese by Japanese visitors.