1st Edition

Competing Victimhood and Intergenerational Responsibility Resolving the Rift Between Japan and Korea

By Ria Shibata, Kina Kunz Copyright 2026
188 Pages 32 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

188 Pages 32 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

Shibata and Kunz delve into the deep-seated identity factors that have perpetuated the conflict between Japan and South Korea. The enduring diplomatic and political tensions between the two nations are rooted in unresolved historical grievances and entrenched narratives of victimhood, which continue to shape their national identities. For meaningful reconciliation to take place, these divisive... Read more

List of figures  List of tables  Acronyms  Acknowledgements  1 Introduction: Competing Victimhood and Intergenerational Responsibility: Resolving the Rift Between Japan and Korea Ria Shibata  2 Historical Flashpoints in Japan–Korea Disputes Kina Kunz  3 Theoretical Framework: Identity Conflict and Competitive Victimhood Ria Shibata  4 Japanese Victimhood and Intergenerational Responsibility Ria Shibata  5 Korean Victimhood and Intergenerational Responsibility Kina Kunz  6 Discussion and Conclusion: Rethinking Responsibility, Reconciliation, and the Future of Japan–Korea Relations Ria Shibata and Kina Kunz  Index

Biography

Ria Shibata is a senior research fellow at the New Zealand Centre for Global Studies specialising in identity politics, conflict resolution, and historical memory in Northeast Asia. Her work also examines climate-induced migration, land loss, and cultural security in the Pacific, linking identity dynamics to regional stability.

Kina Kunz is a teaching fellow at the University of Tübingen, Germany, and holds a PhD in Politics from the University of Otago, New Zealand. Her research focuses on international relations in Northeast Asia and state decision-making processes. She has taught courses on Northeast Asian politics, US foreign policy, IR theory, and New Zealand’s external relations. She has contributed articles to NK News, the Asia New Zealand Foundation, 9Dashline, and The Context.