Migration Through Personal Networks in Okinawa and Southern China

2011 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21520834
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Cultural anthropology/Folklore
• Research Institution: Kanagawa University
• Principal Investigator: OGUMA Makoto 神奈川大学, 外国語学部, 教授 (90185562)
• Project Period (FY): 2009 – 2011
• Keywords: 沖縄県人会 / ネットワーク

Research Abstract

There has been an increasing number of Japanese living in China as a result of more and more Japanese companies doing business in China. In addition to business activities, these Japanese people have organized associations of people from the same prefecture, engaged in various activities, and built their networks. The associations of Okinawans in China have also expanded their activities, mostly dominated by the younger members, through personal networking. This is unique, compared to similar associations of people from other prefectures, which tend to be seniority-based and more formal. It is reckoned that this dissimilarity derives from the fact that Okinawans often choose to work in China of their own free will and they traditionally tend to value peer relationships.