This is Japan’s Mini North Korea.

#japan #northkorea #documentary

At first glance, it looks like your average high school in Japan. Classrooms filled with students scribbling notes, some deep in their math or science textbooks, others just counting down the minutes until that final bell.

When the day ends, some kids head out for soccer or rugby practice, while others drift down the halls to their music lessons, the school slowly emptying out like any other.

But walk a little deeper inside, and something unexpected stands out—portraits. Not of local heroes or school founders, but of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, the former leaders of North Korea. These aren’t just decorations—they’re a central part of daily life here.

Every morning, students put on their traditional uniforms and gather under the gaze of those portraits before starting their day. And here’s the twist: most of these students have never even set foot on the Korean peninsula.

This is the Tokyo Korean Middle and High School, home to around 650 students. It’s one of only ten schools in Japan with deep, historical ties to North Korea. The students here are part of a unique community—Koreans living in Japan who support Chongryon.
Chongryon isn’t just an organization; it’s a cultural and political lifeline.

Born in the aftermath of widespread discrimination against Koreans in Japan, it became a place where people could hold onto their identity. Over time, it built schools, a university, and entire communities—all with support from North Korea. For many families, Chongryon wasn’t about where they came from, but about finding belonging in a place where they were often made to feel like outsiders.

But to understand how this all came to be, you have to go back— like way back.