Immigration and city

Author: [Japan] Koichi Hirota
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-03-01
Features: From the winter of 1991 to the summer of 1996, I conducted a series of surveys and research on the society formed by "transnational migrant groups" and their "interactors," examining the significance of the issues they raised from the perspective of urban sociology. This book is compiled based on this foundation. The focus of the book is primarily on the Japanese-American South American society centered around the Horikawa-ku district of Yokohama City. However, my main focus is not so much on the society itself as on its unique "way of life" as "new immigrants," the formation of the migrant society, and the urban sociological significance of studying them and their "interactors" to form a society—what I call the "transnational migrant group network" in the book. I believe that by consistently focusing on the transnational migrant group experiences (ethnic experiences) of each "individual" and the relationships they establish in specific "places," we can not only examine the forms of these "new immigrants," who are increasingly becoming global issues and are known as "adapted yet differentiated," living together in Japanese society, but also re-examine their behaviors of circumventing or overcoming various established conditions, as well as the urban sociological significance of the actual social state indicated by the term "community" in the daily networks that generate such behaviors. It is precisely out of concern for the above issues that in the chapter, I focus on their "transnational migrant group experiences," arranging analyses and research on "non-assimilation" forms selected from the survey notes and some theoretical frameworks (theoretical frameworks for understanding heterogeneity) for explaining these specific personal situations. In Chapter 2, I focus on their adaptation forms, "way of life," and "transnational migrant group network"—which, as daily relationships, form the foundation of the former two—arranging some case studies and analyses. In Chapter 3, I investigate and analyze the various issues arising at the intersection of their "way of life" and the existing institutional society. In Chapter 4, I focus on their ("interactors") "way of life" and society as independent individuals, and using urban community theory as material, discuss the urban sociological significance of this approach. When discussing the urban sociological significance of the lifestyles and societies of these new immigrants, I take the "problem awareness" of "urban community theory" and the concept of community itself as the basis for my argument. I believe that the various questions raised by the study of the "transnational migrant group" (on the meaning of this concept, see the preface for explanation) to urban sociology itself is the result of a re-evaluation of the significance of "urban community" in modern cities. It is this perspective that forms the basis for adopting the above-mentioned method. In the final chapter, I discuss the necessity of further studying the "daily practices" of the "transnational migrant group" in conjunction with urban community research, as well as the relationships that support it, and present it as my research topic for the future.
A supplementary note: In the structure of each chapter in this book, I often place "case studies" before "analytical research," which is due to my consideration that all the above topics originate from "field research sites." At the end, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the teachers, colleagues, and friends who helped with the publication of this book and each survey. Especially Professor Michio Okada of Chuo University, my supervisor while pursuing my master's degree, who gave me many suggestions and encouragement in my research. Particularly, there was a period when my survey and research work on the "transnational migrant group" lifestyle and society of Japanese-South Americans had not yet been widely understood. Nevertheless, Professor Okada fully supported my research work and provided many opportunities to publish these results. For this, I express my sincere gratitude. Additionally, during that time, some of my undergraduate and graduate students cooperated with me in conducting case studies and research focused on personal experiences and engaged in various discussions on related issues; I was deeply moved that residents and relevant individuals in areas including U District of Horikawa-ku, Yokohama City, and others fully understood and greatly helped with the issues I focused on. Although I cannot list the names of each of these individuals here, please allow me to extend my sincere gratitude and inform you that this book has finally been published and released.