This article examines the various claims made about sojourn children known as kaigaishijo and kikokushijo, or third culture kids (TCKs) in a Japanese context. Their image has shifted from educationally disadvantaged to internationally minded children with bilingual and bicultural abilities who can thrive in the era of globalization. The article also considers and further develops the multidimensional theoretical model originally proposed by Ebuchi to reflect more closely the sojourner and TCK lifestyles, on which empirical studies could be based. (Contains 4 figures.)