Fostering Asian Citizenship in Japanese Students through Intra-Asian Study Abroad

Abstract

　 The purpose of this study is to examine the impact which intra-Asian study abroad experiences have on Japanese students’ sense of ‘Asian citizenship’. In recent years, Japan has seen a rise of intra-Asian mobility. In particular, non-degree-seeking programs, typically lasting less than 1 year, have been on the rise. According to previous research, Japanese people have a much weaker consciousness of being ‘Asian’ than people from other Asian countries. This suggests that Japanese students may be less inclined to feel connected to Asia and may thus lack a willingness to better understand and contribute to the region. If this is the case, the question that then arises is whether intra-Asian study abroad fosters a sense of ‘Asian citizenship’ in Japanese students.

　 Europe’s ERASMUS program is a pioneer of intra-regional student mobility that since its inception has striven to foster a sense of European identity ― a part of European citizenship. However, several previous researches on this topic indicate that the impact on participants’ sense of European identity is varied and controversial. Also, Yokota （2016） found that intra-Asian student mobility has only a modest impact on Asian identity. In these researches, the definitions of regional identity are not necessarily clear. Therefore, in this study, ‘Asian citizenship’ is defined as a more comprehensive concept such as willingness to further understand Asian people and contribute to the Asian region. This study aims to contribute to these debates by offering a perspective which embraces a more comprehensive concept of regional citizenship.

　 Through a survey of 709 Japanese students at a private university in Tokyo, it was found that intra-Asian study abroad programs do have a positive impact on Japanese students’ sense of Asian citizenship. Also, it was found that the duration of a study abroad program was immaterial in terms of its effect. These results indicate the potential value of promoting future intra-Asian student mobility as a means of fostering Japanese students’ sense of Asian citizenship.