This story touches on with the problem of statelessness in Japan, in part associated with the conventions of the koseki family registry system. For English-speakers seeking an overview of the topic, I recommend Hajime Akiyama’s article “Household Registration and Suffrage in Post World War II Japan: The case of the Unregistered (Mukosekisha),” published in the Asia Pacific Journal, August 2018, Volume 16, Issue 15, Number 4. For those interested in taking action, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) initiated the #IBELONG campaign in 2014 with the aim to end statelessness by 2024. This campaign is endorsed by Japan and supported by the Global Compact on Refugees and Global Compact on Migration.
Chapter 20 refers to Māori mythology of Lake Wakatipu in Aotearoa New Zealand. Māori language (te reo Māori) and storytelling deserves not just protection, but celebration For readers interested in engaging with and supporting the work of new and emerging Māori writers, the Māori Literature Trust – Te Waka Taki Kōrero may be a useful reference.