2020 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Transnational Entrepreneurship: Japanese Diaspora Entrepreneurs in Latin America
| Project/Area Number |
20K01857
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| Research Institution | Toyo Gakuen University |
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Principal Investigator |
バーチュリ セーラ 東洋学園大学, 現代経営学部, 教授 (50508562)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
横山 和子 東洋学園大学, 現代経営学部, 教授 (50230660)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
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| Keywords | Diaspora / Entrepreneurship / Latin America / Japanese / Nikkei / Embeddedness |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we altered our initial research plan. We initially took steps to build contacts in Brazil and Argentina and had intended to visit South America for fieldwork in 2020-2021, however due to the travel restrictions this was not possible. We focused attention on the South American Diaspora Entrepreneurs in Japan. This was both as a means to better understand the context, understand more about diaspora entrepreneur experiences in Japan and to pilot new interview questions. We conducted field research at two sites in Japan, Shizuoka Prefecture and Gunma Prefecture. We are using the theoretical framework of transnational embeddedness to better understand the lived experienced of what we have termed the South American Diaspora Ethnic Entrepreneurs (SADEEs).
The embeddedness model assumes that opportunities must not be blocked by barriers which are too high or strict government regulations, that the opportunities are recognized by the entrepreneur him/herself and that the entrepreneur can take advantage of the opportunities offered in the community in a tangible way (Kloosterman, et.al. 1999) and this is what can be seen in our context. The SADEEs and their businesses are both promoted and inhibited by the processes of institutional relations that include the social and business networks, political-economic, structures and dominant organizational and cultural practices (Yeung, 2002). This initial study helped to better understand the community and future research will expand on the concept of embeddedness as it relates to Japanese in Latin America.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.
Reason
The COVID-19 Pandemic has halted field research in South America, however, we have switched direction so as not to waste valuable research time and resources. The research we are now doing domestically on South American diaspora entrepreneurs in Japan will better inform the future South American field research when we are able to visit in 2022.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
We will continue to study the SADEEs in Japan, expanding the study to Okinawa during 2021 as this will provide a stronger base for the South American field research on Ryukyuans in Brazil, particularly in building networks between Naha and Sao Vincente, Brazil. This will help to develop knowledge of identity and deepen understanding of transnational embeddedness. Based on the success of the first field trip to Hamamatsu, Aichi and Gunma prefecture, we aim to return to those areas for further interviews in September.
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| Causes of Carryover |
The amount to be used next year will be used because travel was not possible due to the COVID-19 pandemic during 2020-2021, therefore field research will be conducted in South America in 2022.
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