2019 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Keeping Tabs on Aliens: An Analysis of Monitoring Mechanisms in Japan's Immigration Law and Policy Framework
| Project/Area Number |
17K03316
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| Research Institution | Nagoya University |
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Principal Investigator |
石川 クラウディア 名古屋大学, 国際機構, 准教授 (10283467)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2017-04-01 – 2021-03-31
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| Keywords | policy review / system paradigm shifts |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
In 2019, the PI continued to conduct a review of relevant literature, legislation, policy papers, and academic articles, focusing, in particular, on developments and challenges inherent thus far in the one-year operation of the "specified skills" residence status (在留資格「特定技能」), and implications thereof for the admission, 'monitoring' and management of foreign nationals in Japan, in general. Discussions within the Japan Association for Migration Policy Studies (JAMPS), on the increasing systemisation of immigration control evident since 2018 were of significant value here, and the PI, in 2019, strengthened her links to the Association.
With respect to immigration control in Japan, in FY 2019 the PI gave an oral presentation at a symposium of the Centre for Asian Legal Exchange Consortium (June 2019, Nagoya University). This was followed, in July 2019, by a lecture on Japan's managed immigration policy to Nagoya University Law School.
Moving onto international comparisons, the PI visited the United Kingdom in April 2019 to conduct an interview survey with Dr. Madeleine Sumption MBE, a high-ranking member of the Government Advisory Committee on Migration, on the on the subject of Brexit, and its implications for 'third-national'immigration control.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
4: Progress in research has been delayed.
Reason
The PI is responsible for co-ordinating this university's inbound student exchange programme, which in FY 2019 was beset by a number of difficult challenges.
1. A colleague was hospitalised for surgery in summer 2019, with ramifications for the operation of the exchange programme until autumn 2019. Priority was given to the admission and management of 150 exchange students.
2. The advent of COVID-19 has had/is continuing to have serious implications for conducting this research. The PI is not only unable to travel abroad to engage in in-depth survey interviews, immigration policy, as a whole, has been turned on its head, with international mobility and entry currently being kept to an absolute miminum. FY 2019 has proven a difficult year for immigration-related research, in that much content is in danger of becoming irrelevant.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
In order to continue this research project in FY 2020, the PI will be required to make significant adjustments for the paradigm-shift in immigration-centred research that has been engendered by WITH-COVID. Not only is it likely that overseas travel (Germany, Australia) for the purpose of conducting interview surveys will have to be abandoned, domestic travel, too, is expected to be curtailed. To a certain extent, damage can be mitigated through the employment of ICT applications, such as ZOOM, etc., but initial access to subjects through such means should be understood to be limited.
Nevertheless, the research of 'monitoring mechanisms' in immigration law and policy will remain a pertinent issue, even in a WITH-COVID society, and the PI intends to continue with her research as follows:
1. Continue with literature and policy paper reviews, taking note of COVID-19 implications for the 'monitoring' of foreign nationals, not only in Japan, but also Germany, the UK, and Australia.
2. Attempt to gain online access to scholars in the above countries to conduct interviews.
3. Give an oral presentation of research results at the Japan Association of Migration Policy Studies and, thereafter, compile the research into reports for publication.
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| Causes of Carryover |
Overseas field-work, which requires substantial funding, is intrinsic to the pursuit of this research. In the first semester of FY 2019, the PI visited the UK to conduct an interview survey. Plans for overseas travel in semester 2, however, were aborted due both to personnel issues in the PI's school of affiliation, and later by the advent of COVID-19.
If, and when possible, the PI wishes to conduct overseas research in FY 2020. If this becomes unfeasible, then the travel expenses are expected to be returned.
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Research Products
(1 results)
