(Re-) Entry of Migrants into Japan during the COVID-19 Crisis: Continuities with Normal Times in the Logic of Regulation and Acceptance

Abstract

The aim of this research is to examine the (re-) entry bans and admissions of migrants into Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic and to consider the logic of dealing with migrants. During the pandemic, many countries regulated the movement of people, which, some studies argue, shows the “re-establishment” of states. In contrast, by focusing on the logic of the (re-) entry of migrants during the crisis, it is pointed out that this logic was, in fact, the actualization of the logic latent in normal times. This suggests that the logic of dealing with migrants shows continuity with that of normal times rather than a transformation of states in crisis.