A Study of Networking among Filipino Catholic Communities in the Tohoku Devastated Area

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24520921
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Cultural anthropology/Folklore
• Research Institution: Sophia University
• Principal Investigator: TERADA TAKEFUMI 上智大学, 総合グローバル学部, 教授 (20150550)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 東北大震災 / キリスト教 / フィリピン人 / 移民 / 宗教

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Sendai decided to post priests to all the parish churches after the March 11 Earthquake. The diocese also tried to accept non-Japanese Catholics to their church communities. Since Filipinos are the largest non-Japanese Catholic population in the Tohoku area, the church-going population increased. A church in Iwate Prefecture, where I conducted intensive long-term fieldwork, saw a significant growth of members from 110 (before the March 11 Earthquake) to 190 (one year after March 11). Within this population, a majority consisted of Filipino women married to Japanese men, and their children. Filipinos in Tohoku organized themselves into groups through networking activities with the churches, and actively participate in the church activities formerly dominated by the Japanese members. Such Filipino communities became one step towards rebuilding their lives after the disaster.

Free Research Field

文化人類学