Taiikugaku kenkyu (Japan Journal of Physical Education, Health and Sport Sciences)
Online ISSN : 1881-7718
Print ISSN : 0484-6710
ISSN-L : 0484-6710
Original investigations
Sport space as a safety net for immigrants: A case study of Japanese-Brazilians at Brazil Futsal Center in Oizumi, Gunma, Japan
Shun UetaKazunori Matsumura
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JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2013 Volume 58 Issue 2 Pages 445-461

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Abstract

  This study explores why immigrants creation of an individual “ethnic enclaves” and practice sport separately.
  In previous studies, 3 sociological arguments relating to this issue have been cited: 1) sport as a cause of “failure to assimilate”, which threatens the livelihood of immigrants, 2) sport as an effective means of sustaining “ethnicity”, and 3) sport as an outcome of “disentitlement of the right to enjoy sport”, as a result of the difficulties faced by immigrants in everyday life. However, these arguments have focused on setting the units of “participating in sport” and “encountering daily difficulties” for the “individual”. Therefore, these arguments do not capture the reality of daily life for immigrants, which involves prolonging their period of residence and establishing their families, and the fact that efforts to resolve problems cannot be made by “individuals” but by families, peer groups and communities. This present study tried to grasp this issue of solving the daily living problems of immigrants through sport by focusing on a group of families and communities that participate in sport.
  A case study was conducted at the “Brazil Futsal Center” (BFC) located in Oizumi, Gunma, Japan. The findings revealed that for Japanese-Brazilians who used the BFC, one of the most important issues was “child-minding”. In addition, separation of their children from their home culture in view of the lack of any “Brazilian school” was another issue; one factor related to this was low family income. However, the Japanese-Brazilians dealt with these issues creatively by using the sport space of the BFC. For Japanese-Brazilian families, the BFC is an important focal point where many generations who have embodied their home culture gather.
  From this case study carried out at the BFC, it is clear that the creation of an “ethnic enclave” was not the result of “disentitlement of the right to enjoy sport”, but rather an attempt to restructure the daily life of immigrants through sport.

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© 2013 Japan Society of Physical Education, Health and Sport Sciences
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