Media Utilization and the Challenges of the Chinatown Initiative

Focusing on the Case Study of Ikebukuro Chinatown, Tokyo

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to explore the reasons behind the failure of the official recognition efforts of Ikebukuro Chinatown, focusing on the impact and role of media usage by Chinese residents and workers in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. This research investigates how digital media influences the lives of Chinese immigrants in Ikebukuro Chinatown, specifically examining the impact of their media utilization on the unsuccessful attempts at official recognition. This study, through qualitative methods such as surveys and interviews, highlights the crucial role of social media in establishing broad networks. These networks enhance ethnic entrepreneurship and increase cultural visibility, aiding in the dissolution of traditional community boundaries.