A Study of the Population Migration in the Provinces and Family Practices

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K02076
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 08010:Sociology-related
• Research Institution: Shimane University
• Principal Investigator: KATAOKA Yoshimi 島根大学, 学術研究院人文社会科学系, 教授 (80335546)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 吹野 卓 島根大学, 学術研究院人文社会科学系, 教授 (70228873)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 地方 / 移住・定住 / 家族実践 / 人口問題 / 高校生 / 外国人移住者

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The population decline in the provinces is becoming to be severe. This study analyzed the detailed process in which people leave the provinces or move to the provinces with a focus on the "family practices" that family members do every day. We have focused mainly on the relocation of young people to large cities and the settlement of foreign immigrants in the provinces. Through interviews and surveys, we found that most parents maintain their family practices that encourage their children to move to big cities to experience a variety of things. Therefore, we discussed it is difficult to halt young population decline in the provinces unless they modify these family practices. However, it is hard to change those family practices as well. We also found that being in a vulnerable situation as foreign immigrants encourages people to adopt family practices that strengthen family cohesion. We suggested that such family practices can lead to settlement in this region.

Free Research Field

社会学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

家族実践というアプローチが，地域の人口移動・定住を議論するうえで有効であることを示した。
競争主義・資本主義社会の基準で言えば弱者となる人たちの家族実践が，この地域で行なわれることにより，「地方」の新たな価値が生み出される可能性について示唆した。