Reorganization of Local Communities in Post-Nuclear French Polynesia: Focusing on Paradisiacal Representation and Bodily Practice

• Project/Area Number: 17K03298
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Cultural anthropology
• Research Institution: Kinjo Gakuin University
• Principal Investigator: Kuwahara Makiko 金城学院大学, 文学部, 教授 (20454332)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Project Status: Discontinued (Fiscal Year 2020)
• Budget Amount: ¥3,640,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥840,000); Fiscal Year 2020: ¥650,000 (Direct Cost: ¥500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥150,000); Fiscal Year 2019: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000)
• Keywords: フランス領ポリネシア / 核実験 / ハオ環礁 / 地域再建 / 仏領ポリネシア / ツアモツ諸島 / ツアモツ / 文化人類学 / 地域研究 / ポリネシア

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study examined the impact of a nuclear test conducted by France in French Polynesia on the residents of Hao atoll, a forward base during the nuclear tests. I interviewed the residents about the environmental pollution and health damage of the atoll and conducted participate-observation to research the development project for regional reconstruction. The research reveals that what they want to regain is not the traditional life before the nuclear tests, but economic wealth with Western European supplies which they enjoyed during the tests, although suffering environmental and health damage. It also indicates that each resident of the atoll was affected by nuclear tests differently.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

放射能被ばく被害の捉え方及び賠償交渉における立場の違いは、ネオコロニアルな政治やグローバル経済の地域ごとへの波及度合いの違いにあると概括してしまうと、性別、年齢、民族、職業などが異なる人々の個々の経験や暮らしを等閑視することになる。本研究ではそれを避け、実験地及び軍事基地となった環礁への核実験の影響を、住民の身体実践に焦点を当てて、島・環礁ごとに、さらには、個々の住民ごとにミクロに考察した。

Research Products

• [Presentation] 「希望と不安―核実験後のツアモツ諸島ハオ環礁における養魚場プロジェクト―」 (2019)
  • Author(s): 桑原牧子
  • Organizer: オセアニア学会関東例会
• [Presentation] “Uncertainties in Estimating Health and Environmental Risks of Radioactive Contamination in Hao, French Polynesia after Nuclear Tests” (2019)
  • Author(s): Makiko Kuwahara
  • Organizer: International Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences, 2019 Congress.
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] 「仏領ポリネシア核実験の元前進基地ハオにみる当事者性」 (2019)
  • Author(s): 桑原牧子
  • Organizer: 放射線影響をめぐる「当事者性」に関する学際的研究、国立民族学博物館
• [Presentation] Hope and anxiety: the fish farm project in Hao after the CEP (2018)
  • Author(s): Makiko Kuwahara
  • Organizer: European Society for Oceanists 2018 Conference, University of Cambridge
  • Int'l Joint Research