2014 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report
日本におけるネパール人移民労働者のケーススタディー
| Project/Area Number |
13J10078
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| Research Institution | The University of Tokyo |
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Principal Investigator |
DIPESH Kharel 東京大学, 東洋文化研究所, 特別研究員(DC1)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
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| Keywords | Transnational Migration / Visual Ethnography / Fieldwork / Ethnographic film / Skill labor |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
My PhD research project "A case study of Nepali migrant workers in Japan" will examine the unique characteristics of Nepali migrants working as cooks in Nepali restaurants in Japan, who are categorized by Japanese immigration authority as "skilled labor (cook)". There are already more than a 500 Nepali restaurants in Tokyo, and that number is still increasing. Recently, Nepali restaurants have been spreading to smaller towns in Japan, creating more space for Nepali migrants to enter.
I have carried out intensive fieldwork in Tokyo for 4 months (April 2014 to August 2014) and collected data regarding the daily life of Nepal immigrants working at Nepali restaurants. I have conducted 30 in-depth interviews, 3 case studies, and participant observation at Nepali restaurants in Tokyo. I have also conducted fieldwork in Nepal (Kathmandu and Malma village) for a month (October 2014) and collected data on the migrants’ families’ situation in Nepal. In addition, I have attended at six international conferences/workshops （such as Visual Anthropology Workshop at the University of Bergen, Norway, International Workshop Japan’s New Immigrants at Waseda University, Days of Ethnographic Cinema at National Research University, IUAES 2014 Inter-congress: the Future with/of Anthropologies) to present my research findings. Furthermore, I have also presented the research findings at my seminar class and second DQP (Doctoral Qualifying Presentation in November 2014) at the University of Tokyo.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
1: Research has progressed more than it was originally planned.
Reason
Based on my research plan I am able to conducted fieldwork in Japan and Nepal and collected data regarding the daily life of Nepal migrants and their families. My research findings has been presented at my second DQP (Doctoral Qualifying Presentation) at the University of Tokyo. Furthermore my research work has won David Plath Media Award 2014 (the award for the best academic/media work on East Asia that contributes to empirical as well as theoretical debate, for more details: http://www.aaanet.org/sections/seaa/2014/12/2014-plath-media-award-playing-with-nan-honorable-mentions/)
My advisor and the members of DQP committee have been satisfied from my research achievements so far.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
Using multi-sited visual ethnographic research method and using camera as a research tool, I will conduct fieldwork in Japan for 3 months and in Nepal for 2 months. I have planed to conduct filed work in Nepal from 8th April to 25 May 2015. I will utilize in -depth interview, case studies and participant observation methods to record daily life of Nepali immigrants in Japan and their family in Nepal. Besides conducting fieldwork and writing thesis, I will also attend International conferences and workshops. I also work on research papers for Journal publication
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Research Products
(7 results)
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[Presentation] Playing with Nan2015
Author(s)
Dipesh Kharel
Organizer
International Workshop Japan’s New Immigrants: Capturing the Changing Ethno-scape in a Globalizing Society
Place of Presentation
Waseda University, Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies
Year and Date
2015-02-12 – 2015-02-14
Invited
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