Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the conditions of the labor-life and acculturation of “Dekasegi”-Brazilians and Japanese workers in an automotive wire harness manufacturing plant. The production of automotive wire harness is a typically labor-intensive process. The number of orders received from a principal contractor company changes sharply based on the thorough “Just in Time” production system. Then, the firm begins production with the local regular employees and part-time workers during the low season and copes with the increased orders received in the busy term by hiring temporary workers including Brazilians. The results of our investigation indicate some problems as follows; Japanese laborers were suffering due to low wages and the prolonged intensive labor. Moreover the closure of a factory involved with production overseas was now causing great uneasiness among them. On the other hand, Brazilians were stationed in the work place without of any evaluation their past careers and experiences, and were also discharged in a short period of time. It is possible to say that simple diagrams, such as “Japanese=majority (strength)”, and “foreigner=minority (weakness)”, are not accepted or rather, there is complication of a North-South gap in the proceeding of globalization and hollowing out of local industry. Another thing to note is that a stable reliance / cooperation relationship was formed between Japanese and Brazilians in the workplace. Both groups reflected upon each other's view of life and society, and thought that they had changed and grown in such a relationship. But most Japanese laborers were indifferent to the frequent dismissal of Brazilians. Among Brazilian employees, there were conflict of interests and competition, and they have not united. After our investigation, this firm failed to keep up with the international competition and was closed.
