Since the collapse of the economic bubble, there has been an expansion in wealth gaps and emphasis on ability. People's frustrations (stemming from those things) have been directed into minority bashi

Ah, c'mon! You only have to have a brief understanding if Japanese history to know how segregated the culture is. There were only two decades if prosperity that closed the class gap slightly, but it also created an over inflated economy that was destined to crash. Japan has always been a land of those who have and those who have not.

Isn't emphasis on ability rather than personal connections a good thing?

There is no discrimination against South Korean in Japan. Rather they have preferential treatments that other foreigners can not enjoy. They are demanding voting right, and government jobs. Shin Sugok, why don't you ask your government to stop anti-Japan propaganda, rather than complain Japanese.

"They are demanding voting right, and government jobs."

People who were born and raised here and whose parents and grandparents were born here... demand the right to vote? That is intolerable!

If they want to vote they have to change their nationality to Japanese. There are many Koreans who did that. It's not a discremination.

Tina has a point. It's not about second or third-generation Korean-Japanese who accept their Japanese citizenship as a de facto part of their existence in this country. It's second and third-generation Korea-Japanese, who despite having been born and raised in Japanese culture, insist upon not only retaining a South Korean citizenship that Seoul recognizes unquestioningly, but also feircely rejects choosing instead to adopt Japanese citizenship.

Why would or should anyone choosing this path expect a reaction from Japanese society any different from what it's been?

"I'll live in your clubhouse, I'll drink your punch and eat your pretzels, I'll even pay your club dues. But I'll be damned if I'll say I'm a member of this club. Now, give me my ballot to vote on club issues!"

Ummm.... No.

But I digress....

The widening income gap issue is a real one. And Abe-nomics isn't going to help matters. However, I think the frustration people are feeling is being directed in a lot of different directions, and not just at minorities.