2007 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary
Basic Research on Okinawan Immigrants and Community Buildings in Prewar South Seas
| Project/Area Number |
16401024
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 海外学術 |
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| Research Field |
Human geography
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| Research Institution | University of the Ryukyus |
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Principal Investigator |
MACHIDA Munehiro University of the Ryukyus, Faculty of Law and Letters, Professor (10145518)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
NAKAHODO Masanori University of the Ryukyus, Faculty of Law and Letters, Professor (50044863)
MIYUCHI Hisamitsu University of the Ryukyus, Faculty of Law and Letters, Professor (90284942)
KUWXTSUKA Kentaro University of the Ryukyus, Faculty of Law and Letters, Associate Professor (40346466)
OISHI Tarou University of the Ryukyus, Faculty of Law and Letters, Lecturer (70433092)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2004 – 2007
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| Keywords | Okinawa / immigrant / migration / South Seas / landscape / World War II / Davao / New Caledonia |
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| Research Abstract |
The goals of research follow below.
1. To delve into the migration phenomenon/patterns of the Okinawan immigrants.
2. To analyze how Okinawan immigrants involved in building communities in the South Sea region conceptualizing space as a category of analysis.
3. To record the life experiences of Okinawan immigrants based on their own testimonies and the ones by local people.
4. To conduct comparative analysis on the structures of Okinawan immigrants between the inner South Sea and the outer South Sea regions.
In terms of migration phenomenon/patterns, the database of "Facts Research of Returnees" (that collects information of 13,000 people) archived by Okinawa Prefecture have began to illuminate the outline.
We also found out that the institutions/organizations built by Okinawan and Japanese immigrants have continued to be utilized in the cities today like in Noumea, New Caledonia.
WWII devastated the Okinawan immigrants. In the inner South Sea region, most immigrants returned to Japan and Okinawa while in the outer South Sea region such as New Caledonia, many families were broken up and Okinawans were left behind in the region after the war. Such communities kept their ties with local organizations in Okinawa, i.e., Davao association, and New Caledonia Friendship Association was established in Okinawa with the existence of Okinawan immigrants left behind in New Caledonia.
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