The portion of resident Korean nationals in the sports and show business worlds is higher than it is in the general population. Athletics and entertainment were and still are two traditional ways for non-Japanese to escape poverty.
This week the variety show "Family History" (NHK-G, Mon., 10 p.m.) profiles actress Kaho Minami, who is married to Hollywood star Ken Watanabe. Minami's mother was Korean, and the program traces her heritage back to her grandfather, who came to Japan before World War II and worked in Kyoto at a store that sold martial-arts equipment.
After the war he lost his job and his family fell into deep poverty. They were supported by the eldest daughter, Naoe, who led a very turbulent life but thanks to her persevering spirit was able to make a stable home for her own family, including Minami, who inherited that spirit.