Voices of Japanese Brazilian Youths in Japan: Identity Development and Language in Transcultural Environment
Date
2015-07-24
Authors
Matsuura, Mika
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Abstract
This thesis explores the relations between Japanese Brazilian youths’ identity development and language use in their transcultural environment. After the amendment of Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act in 1990, a number of Nikkei- foreign nationals of Japanese ancestry- came to Japan to work as blue-collar laborers. The majority of those Nikkei were from Brazil since they had suffered an economic collapse since the early 1980s. Japanese Brazilian families are often called as “transcultural/ transnational community” by researchers of Japanese Brazilians as they are frequently forced to move around cities in Japan or between Japan and Brazil in order to find new employment. Applying the theoretical framework of narrative and qualitative content analysis, this thesis listens to the voices of Japanese Brazilian youths living in Japan who have accompanied their sojourner parents. Examining how Japanese Brazilian youths who were raised in Japan developed their sense of belongingness and identity both in the host and immigrant societies is crucial since they have the potential to play an important role in the future of globalization by taking advantage of their multiple language ability and their transcultural background. The voices of Japanese Brazilian youths in this study reveal five main themes related to their transcultural experiences.
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Keywords
Japanese, Brazilian, youths, youth, transcultural environment, identity, language