GEOGRAPHICAL SCIENCES
Online ISSN : 2432-096X
Print ISSN : 0286-4886
ISSN-L : 0286-4886
An Analysis of Characteristics of Newcomers from Other Prefectures in Zamami Village, Okinawa Prefecture
Hisamitsu MIYAUCHI
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JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

1998 Volume 53 Issue 4 Pages 283-296

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Abstract

This paper identifies attributes of the newcomers from other prefectures and reveals some of the processes and characteristics of their spatial movement. The results of research can be summarized as follows: 1. Newcomers are classified into two types. Type I newcomers are those who repeatedly travel to Zamami Village in order to work there as temporary employees in the diving-service industry and for private concerns. Type II newcomers are those who reside permanently in Zamami Village to become managers of the diving-service industry, and females who marry residents of Zamami Village. 2. As for Type I newcomers, females account for 59 percent. And 81 percents of them are in the age range of 20 to 29. Additionally, most of them migrated from metropolitan areas such Tokyo, Kanagawa and Osaka. The main motives are "yearning after the blue marine waters" and "to enjoy the simple life-style of islands in Okinawa which could not be experienced in their homelands in mainland Japan." 3. As for Type II, the diving-service managers of newcomers can be classified into two groups. The first groups started in the diving-service before 1990. At that time, scuba-diving was not a popular marine sports in Japan, and therefore their early-on experience rarely enabled them to be employed by scuba-diving companies. By contrast, the second groups started diving-service after 1990, they became employed diving instructors or management positions immediately. 4. A mainland Japanese female who marries in Zamami village is called Yamato yome. The number of them has increased every year, especially after 1990. A questionnaire survey revealed that most of them formerly lived in a metropolitan area and, having come to the islands, were inclined to marry simply because they were thoroughly impressed by the wonderful natural environment of Zamami Village.

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