Japanese Brazilians in Hamamatsu City : An Ethnographic Study on the Second Generation

Abstract

At the end of the 1980s, the Brazilians of Japanese descent were officially allowed to enter Japan as unskilled workers, solving the country's labor shortages. Since then, as a new ethnic minority group, they are facing many issues in this host society. Despite the vast research on this ethnic return migration, known as the Dekasegi Movement, little is known about its young generation. Therefore, the purpose of this ethnographic study is the analysis of the current situation of the Japanese Brazilians in Hamamatsu City with a focus on their second generation. Fieldwork was conducted in order to portray this minority group from different perspectives. The empirical findings demonstrate the way these young people have been perceived and presented in this transnational context, confirming their stigmatization as the children of immigrants. Moreover, such a negative perception has influenced the way they see themselves, thereby limiting their perspectives, and creating many uncertainties and challenges for the future. In conclusion, this study suggests further research on the meaning of "Japaneseness", which still reinforces narratives of pure blood and nationality, dominating public consciousness and influencing not only views and attitudes towards foreigners, but also the formulation, analysis, and review of migration policies in Japan.