By Robina Asido

A 90-year-old second generation Nikkei-jin has finally received her Japanese passport issued by the Embassy of Japan on Friday.

Adelaida Kakazu, who was accompanied by her relatives, has received her Japanese passport from Maya Hamada, the Minister-Counselor and Consul General of the Japan Embassy in Pasay City.

The Japanese passport of Kakazu was issued after a Japanese court approved the restoration of her Japanese citizenship in March 2026.

Hamada congratulated Kakazu and "sincerely hope that today's issuance of her passport will mark another important step toward fulfilling her long-held wish."

As she finally obtained her Japanese passport, Kakazu expressed her happiness and hope that the dream of other Japanese descendants who also want to obtain their Japanese nationality will also be granted.

Hamada said the Japanese Embassy will continue to assist other Nikkei-jin in their "Shuseki" process, a legal procedure to establish a Japanese family register based on the recognition of Japanese nationality.

"To respond to the heartfelt wishes of Japanese descendants who remained in the Philippines after the war, the Embassy will continue to work closely with local Japanese-Filipino associations, the Federation of Nikkei Jin Kai Philippines, the PNLSC, and other concerned organizations and individuals," she added.

After getting her passport, Kakazu said she will talk with her child and grandchildren to decide on when they can visit her father's home town in Okinawa Prefecture.

"For now, I cannot say yet because I am old. If only I were not old and could manage on my own, I could do it at any time. I cannot go anywhere without the approval of my children and my grandchildren," she said.

However, Kakazu said that when she visits Japan, she wants to see her Japanese relatives and her father's tomb.

"I will tell her everything that happened starting from when we were left behind in 1946 when I was only 10 years old, how we helped my mother, and how all of us worked together so we could live a decent life.

Kakazu who was born in Sariaya, Quezon in December 17, 1935 has six siblings but only she is still alive.

She stressed that her mother never remarried even though their father Noboru who worked as an interpreter left when she was still young. PHS