A Filipino-Japanese woman, 82, returned home to Japan after her Japanese father left her in the Philippines during World War II in 1945.
This is the story of Margarita Hiroko Koyama, who lived in Digos, Davao del Sur.
She returned home to Japan on September 10, 2023.
Margarita is considered to be the first war-displaced descendant of a Japanese migrant in the Philippines who was able to return home to Japan.
The Japanese term for people like Margarita is Nikkei-jin.
Margarita Hiroko Koyama (center) before sailing to Japan. With her is Hanada Takahiro, minister of the Japanese Embassy in Manila (far right).

According to The Mainichi website, Margarita's father, Tomaho Koyama, came to the Philippines before World War II, and married a Filipina.
But by 1945, during the Second World War, Tomaho along with his children like Margarita, were captured by American soldiers before Japan surrendered on August 14, 1945.
Tomaho was deported to Japan, leaving behind his wife and children in the Philippines.
Tomaho died in Fukuoka Prefecture three years later.
Margarita's Battle for Citizenship
It took Margarita years to prove her Japanese citizenship.
During the war, many documents, such as birth certificates, were destroyed.
Margarita submitted a petition to the family court in Japan. She was granted Japanese citizenship in 2017.
In 2019, she got her Japanese passport.
But she had to pay $34,000 or P2 million as a fine for being a displaced descendant of Japanese migrants because they are considered illegal residents.
This signaled the Japanese Embassy's negotiations with the Philippine government.
As of July 2023, the Philippine government has agreed to waive the fine for Japanese nationals who obtain certificates and other requirements from the Japanese Embassy.
This is Immigration Memorandum Circular No. 2023-004: “Guidelines on Philippine Nikkei-jin.”
Margarita is considered the first beneficiary of this immigration memorandum.
Margarita said she wished to visit the land where her father was born. And she will fulfill it now.
"Maybe I will cry, won't I, I didn't think I would go to Japan," Margarita explained to NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation).
According to The Mainichi, Margarita will meet her five daughters in Japan, who have been working and living in Japan for a long time.
She also plans to visit her father's grave, as well as her relatives there.
Regarding this story, Hanada Takahiro, minister of the Japanese Embassy in Manila, assured that they will continue to do their best to help people like Margarita.
From: PEP.ph
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