Since 1920's, many Okinawans have come to urban centers of mainland Japan in search of jobs. Analyzing the life histories of Okinawan migrant workers from the same village in socio-historical contexts, I examine the role of "home" in their occupational socialization processes. The "home" mainly means both their native community in Okinawa and the society of hometown fellows in urban area of Japanese mainland. Two major findings from the analysis of 46 personal life histories are: (1) rapid changes in the Okinawa-Japan relationship have led to diversification of their occupational socialization processes, (2) the society of hometown fellows has come to play psychological rather than utilitarian functions, as the members' life-worlds expanded and became diversified. Living in pluralistic social worlds, they long for reference groups which enable them to confirm their ethnic identity.
