본 논문은 전후 일본의 사례를 중심으로“국민” 의“경계”설정이 어떻게 이루어지고 있는지 법적 제도적 측면을 중심으로 살펴보고자 한다. 정치공 동체를 구성하는 구성원의 경계, 특히 국가를 구성 하는 국민의 범주에 누구를“포함”하고 누구를“배 제”할 것인가의 문제는 전근대에서 근대로의 전환 시기 대부분의 정치공동체가 직면했던 가장 중요한 문제 가운데 하나였다. 이 문제에 직면하여 근대 국 가는 공통의 혈연, 언어, 문화, 역사 등을 공유하는 그리고 무엇보다 공통의 정체성과 소속감을 공유하 는 (또는 공유하는 것으로“상상”되어지는) 사람들 을 국민으로 재편하여 공동체 구성원으로 포함하는 한편“이방인”을“타자”화하고 배제함으로써 자신 의 경계를 설정하였다. 그리고 이는“국민”들에게만 국적 또는 시민권을 부여하고“비국민들(nonnationals)” 에게는 이러한 권리를 부정함으로써 법 적 제도적으로 표상되었다. 본 논문은 이러한 국민 의 경계 설정 문제에 직면하여 일본이“일본인”의 경계를 어떻게 설정해왔는지 법적 제도적 측면을 중심으로 살펴보고자 한다. 이러한 논의를 통해 본 논문은“일본인”의 경계 설정이 혈통주의 원칙에 입각한 국적법과 남성 중심의 호적 제도에 근거하 여 이루어져 왔음을 보여주고자 하며, “다문화”시 대를 맞아 이러한 경계 설정 방식의 변화가 필요 함을 지적하고자 한다.

This paper examines how the boundaries of the “Japanese”have been drawn in post-war Japan. Determining the boundaries of members was one of the most important problems that political communities faced in the early modern period. Faced with this problem, modern states have drawn their boundaries by including as national members those who share (or believe to share) common descent, language, culture, history, identity, and feelings of belonging, while excluding “strangers”who do not. This is legally and institutionally represented by granting nationality and citizenship only to nationals and by denying these rights to non-nationals. Focusing on the Japanese case, this paper examines how the boundaries of national members have been drawn legally and institutionally. In doing so, this paper will show that jus sanguinis principle and male-centered koseki (family registry) system play a significant role in drawing the boundaries of the Japanese legally and institutionally in post-war Japan and argue that, as it becomes a multicultural society, Japan needs to change its boundaries once again.

This paper examines how the boundaries of the “Japanese”have been drawn in post-war Japan. Determining the boundaries of members was one of the most important problems that political communities faced in the early modern period. Faced with this problem, modern states have drawn their boundaries by including as national members those who share (or believe to share) common descent, language, culture, history, identity, and feelings of belonging, while excluding “strangers”who do not. This is legally and institutionally represented by granting nationality and citizenship only to nationals and by denying these rights to non-nationals. Focusing on the Japanese case, this paper examines how the boundaries of national members have been drawn legally and institutionally. In doing so, this paper will show that jus sanguinis principle and male-centered koseki (family registry) system play a significant role in drawing the boundaries of the Japanese legally and institutionally in post-war Japan and argue that, as it becomes a multicultural society, Japan needs to change its boundaries once again.

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Nationals, Boundaries, Inclusion, Exclusion, Nationality, Japan, the Japanese, Jus sanguinis, Koseki system, Multiculturalism