2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Moratorium migration in contemporary post-growth Japan: Lifestyle volunteers between insecurity and fulfillment
Project/Area Number |
16K03212
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Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
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Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
Section | 一般 |
Research Field |
Cultural anthropology
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Research Institution | Hokkaido University |
Principal Investigator |
Klien Susanne 北海道大学, メディア・コミュニケーション研究院, 准教授 (20725048)
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Project Period (FY) |
2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
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Keywords | Lifestyle migration / precariousness / volunteer / rural revitalization / work-life balance / entrepreneurship / post-growth |
Outline of Final Research Achievements |
Individual cases of lifestyle migration, i.e. relocation from urban to rural areas with the aim to achieve higher life quality, across Japan yielded important results with regard to migrants’ aspirations and challenges. The interviews conducted in different regions of Japan (Tokushima Prefecture, Miyagi Prefecture, Iwate Prefecture, Niigata Prefecture, Shimane Prefecture, Hokkaido) illustrated the neoliberal pressures that migrants face in their efforts to achieve higher life quality and pursue personally meaningful work.Participant observation made evident that the integration of lifestyle volunteers varies considerably on local conditions. In areas like Tokushima Prefecture with a long tradition of migrant influx settlers seemed better integrated. Interviews conducted across Japan showed that migrants often work long hours, with the line between paid work and volunteer work being unclear.
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Free Research Field |
Anthropology, Japanese studies
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Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements |
This ethnography contributes to anthropological research into new forms of rural life by documenting the gap between migrants’ aspirations and real lives. The study refines research into lifestyle migration and precarious modes of working and living by coining the term ‘moratorium migration’.
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