Japan is not exempt from migration debatesOn the occasion of the publication of Hommes et Migrations special issue on Japan

Speakers :
Abdelhafid HAMMOUCHE (univ. Lille 1, Clersé)
Hélène LE BAIL (MFJ – UMIFRE 19)

Moderator : Jean-Michel BUTEL (MFJ – UMIFRE 19)

Résumé :
Are there any singularities in Japan’s migration policy? What lies behind the statistic that foreign residents make up less than 2% of the Japanese population? How can we explain the fact that the number of foreign residents has decreased every year since 2009 while the total population of Japan is also shrinking?
Our aim, on the one hand, is to present and try to explain current trends in migration to Japan and, on the other, to help characterize part of Japan’s migratory relations by drawing a parallel with the French situation: While France is flatteringly presented as a land of welcome and the birthplace of human rights, Japan is usually considered a rather inward-looking country. We suggest putting aside such a distinction by outlining a comparative approach. We will highlight some of the characteristic elements in emigration in the two countries, mainly in the relationship between Japan, Korea and Brazil, and between France and Algeria.

Profil :
Hélène Le Bail is an associate research fellow at the French Research Institute on Japan, MFJ, Tokyo. She conducts research on new Chinese migrants and expatriates, and on marriage migrations. She holds a doctorate in Political Science from the Paris Institute of Political Studies and a master’s degree in Chinese Studies.

Abdelhafid Hammouche, a sociologist and full professor at Lille 1 University, is a member of the editorial board of Hommes et Migrations. His current research relates to social dynamics and the action of public authorities in urban space, and follows on from his work on the family in a migratory situation.

Organisation : Bureau français de la MFJ
Co-organisation : CCIFJ