In Memory of Charles R. Jenkins

One of the neat things I accidentally discovered when I started this site is people from all walks of life contact me regarding private questions about naturalization. Some are directed to all the contributors of our site, but some of them, due to the seriousness of the matter of changing one's nationality, contact me directly and privately.

During the middle of last year, a representative for Charles Robert Jenkins contacted me via email. Mr. Jenkins, during his forty years in North Korea beginning with his drunken defection from the U.S. Army in 1965, didn't really get a chance to learn how to use email or the internet. Or even develop basic skills in computer literacy.

Charles Jenkins, however, was interested in obtaining Japanese nationality, so an acquaintance of his contacted me on his behalf asking for advice regarding his situation.

"I'd like to thank the ministry for
giving me permanent residency so
quickly. I'd also like Japanese
citizenship if possible. I want
to be here until I die."

I was frankly blown away by the line of questioning. His situation that was so impossible to believe that it sounds like a Hollywood movie. Knowing that the Jenkins situation would be an EXTREMELY special case (he received 永住者 {eijūsha} (Permanent Resident) status after just two weeks — normally it takes up to three months), I suspected that due to his very incredible and unique connection to Japan, as well as his advanced age and how a difficult long life had affected his health, he would receive special handling and treatment from the Legal Affairs Bureau (法務局 {hōmukyoku}) in Niigata Prefecture (新潟県 {Niigata-ken}). Another former American with a very important connection to Japan, Donald Keene (キーンドナルド {KĪN Donarudo}), received his Japanese nationality very quickly compared to the average applicant — probably due to his advanced age — despite the Ministry of Justice (法務省 {hōmushō}) denying that he was treated any differently.

After a back and forth exchange of five emails, she thanked me, saying she would relay the advice to him, and she welcomed me to come to the Mano Park, Sado City in Niigata Prefecture (新潟県佐渡市真野公園 {Niigata-ken Sado-shi Mano-kōen}) to visit him someday, as it was unlikely he'd ever visit Tokyo for personal reasons.

Sado Island is not an easy place to get to. While it is the fifth largest island in Japan, after the four main islands and Okinawa (沖縄 {Okinawa}), it is still tiny with a population of less than 60,000 people (in 2017) and an area of just 855km². Its one small airport / airfield hasn't been used for general commercial flights in years, and its two biggest industries are fishing and tourism. Like many of the tiny islands around Shikoku and Okinawa, a boat or ferry is the only way in or out. Much of its population is senior, which I'm sure suited Mr. Jenkins. Historically, Sado Island is where Japan used to exile unpopular people, which is ironic considering Jenkins' life.

KFC can't brag that Colonel Sanders,
the omnipresent stature in front of
every Japanese Kentucky Fried Chicken,
has its spokesperson working inside.

Jenkins' new job after discovering freedom in Japan was similar to what senior citizens in America who work at Walmart as store greeters do — except rather than being anonymous with the exception of a name tag, the store had turned Jenkins into an attraction himself, even giving him a cardboard cutout in the front of the store announcing when he was working so tourists can meet, thank, and take pictures of him... in addition to buying the locally made 煎餅 {sembei} (Japanese rice crackers) that he hawked.

Jenkins was respected and loved by many Japanese people because he could give independent testimony regarding the kidnapping by spies and agents of the DPRK (North Korea), who abducted men, woman, and children, from Japanese sovereign soil. He was also able to give some closure to other families who had suffered from uncertainties for decades. In particular, Jenkins is particularly important to Sado Island because he married a Japanese national, 曽我ひとみ {SOGA Hitomi}, who was kidnapped by North Korean spies from same Japanese island at the age of 20, along with her mother, who was never seen again.

Mr. Jenkins' memoirs have been published in Japanese, Korean, and English

For decades, most people outside of Japan ignored the pleas of the victims families, saying that the idea that North Korea would send people across the Sea of Japan to snatch Japanese of no particular political, economic, or military significance was obviously a conspiracy theory, motivated by anti-Korean hate and paranoia. When I first arrived in Japan in the nineties, I was told by other foreigners in Japan that a good way to determine who is a right wing racist nut job is if they ever bring up the "wacky tale" of North Koreans kidnapping Japanese children.

One of many government produced
posters expressing solidarity with
the victims and their families.

The western press buried the story or refused to write about it, because this was the "politically correct" thing to do.

North Korea's leader, KIM Jong-Il (金正日 {KIMU Jon-iru}), publicly admitted to the kidnapping of (at least) thirteen Japanese in 2002. Even today, after the truth is known, the English press is far more likely to write an article about Japanese political protests against people associating and expressing their loyalty to the North Korean regime (as an example of Japanese ethnic and racial hatred and racism towards Koreans) than they are on focusing on the victims who have suffered for decades at the hands of the North Korean state.

Charles Jenkins, his abducted Japanese wife, and their children helped turn the Japanese tragedy into a living story that the western press could relate to.

For more information about the abduction of Japanese by the state of North Korea, please visit the Japan Government's official web site:

rachi.go.jp

[拉致 {rachi} means "abduction" in Japanese]

One of the final comments Mr. Jenkins made to the press when he obtained his permanent resident status was: "I want to be here [in Japan] until I die."

Mr. Jenkins passed away this month on December 12, 2017, near his loving Japanese family (two daughters) and loving wife.

He got his wish.

Rest in Peace, Charles Robert Jenkins.