illegalness of migration in Japan

illegalness of migration in Japan

Sub-replacement fertility and population-aging has become a general, consistent situation in Japan, Korea and Taiwan. In Japan, these two words are actually a single term in Japanese while in Taiwan we always discuss them together. That is because, basically, neither Japan nor Taiwan do widely accept immigrants by any approach except investment, marriage or volunteering naturalization after a long period of habitation, which is hard for normal people. Thus, a tremendous amount of labor forces are required to maintain productivity and household care. 

However, owing to strict regulations upon migrants, unfair treatment, discrimination from employers and inefficient tunnel to appeal, some of them decided to “escape” from origin work places, becoming a nomad in the host society. And the worst of all, their existence has become illegal, but how can we judge them escaping from an inhumanity circumstance, which is rationally and emotionally right? How do we shape them as illegal beings or even criminals? And how do they live with this negative label?

In this paper, I will try to do a literature review about two things. First is to summarize the narrative being told in Japan, analyzing the history of this illegalness. Kato Jotaro illustrates how it is possible living in Japan as an illegal migrant. Secondly, I want to introduce the mechanism of inclusive, exclusive of migrants. Suzuki Eriko has demonstrated that system thoroughly in her chapter.

Tentative bibliography

Kato Jotaro, 2019, “Living in Illegality”: What Makes It Possible for Irregular Migrants to Live in Japan?. Migration Policy Review,11

Suzuki Eriko, 2017, “The beginning of selective policy of foreigners”, International sociology of immigrants, The University of Nagoya Press. Nagoya

Mochizuki Hiroki, 2019, “two Japan”: tatemae and reality of migrant country, Kabushiki gaisha Kodansha, Tokyo