Latent Demand on “U-turn” Migration to the Hometown and Direction of Supportive Policy: Focusing on Housing Search and Social Relations

Abstract

This study examines the potential demand for migration candidates in order to modify a substantial migration policy for Noto Peninsula, Ishikawa Prefecture, which is experiencing increasing depopulation. The study's survey targeted prefecture natives or inhabitants of adjacent prefectures intending to perform a U-turn (return to one's hometown form a large city) or a J-turn) return to the region of one's hometown. (Furthermore, the feature of this research was selecting survey targets, through a screening survey and data collection, who had previously rejected migration after actually considering it carefully. The Internet-based questionnaire conducted for this study led to 49 respondents interested in migration and 45 who rejected migration to the Noto Peninsula as valid targets. As a result, although the need for housing and daily life features was an important concern as in numerous previous studies, the concern about social relations after migration was very low. Further, despite this pre-migration lack of concern for social relations, mutual help was an important factor in ensuring stable and lasting settlement after migration. Incorporating this knowledge in future migration promotion policies will enable contribution towards the definite procurement of many migrants.