Conventional migration studies have predominantly framed migration within a bilateral relationship between the sending and receiving nations, thereby overlooking the transnational trajectories and colonial enterprises of diverse Japanese populations who moved across multiple national contexts. This analytical limitation has also been reflected in scholarship on Japanese migration to Brazil, where the significant roles of Japanese residents in the United States and re-migrants, often described as advocates of the “South American Development Doctrine,” have received little scholarly attention. This study addresses this gap by examining three migration organizations established by Japanese residents in the United States (including returnees to Japan) and re-migrants who had endured severe experiences of anti-Japanese exclusion. Employing a comparative analysis of their organizational membership, ideological orientations, and colonization projects, the research elucidates the sociopolitical and religious motivations underlying their colonial undertakings in Brazil. The findings reveal that these actors shared a fervent form of nationalism closely intertwined with Christian faith, inspiring their vision of Brazil as a “Land of Canaan” for Japanese settlers. At the same time, the study identifies pronounced divergences in their philosophies, objectives, and methods of colonization, reflecting the distinct historical moments and socio-economic backgrounds that shaped their respective migratory experiences.

View full abstract

The primary purpose of this paper is to clarify the process of matching underutilized real estate with the willingness to open new stores in the central area of Maebashi City, where underutilized real estate is conspicuous, and to clarify the transformation of the central urban area through the expansion of new businesses. “Machi-Stant” is one of the policies for utilizing underutilizsed real estate in Maebashi City. The main task of this project is to connect real estate with business managers, with a focus on how regional transformation can be achieved through coordinated efforts. The regional transformation in Maebashi City can be categorized into three stages. The first stage is that old relationships connect commercial districts, and there are many underutilized properties due to the declining birthrate, aging population, and suburban expansion of commerce and services. The second stage is that the government or private capital, in cooperation with the government, acts as an intermediary between those who intend to open a store and the downtown. The third stage is when new relationships are formed among new store owners through community exchanges, such as events, and the leaders in these relationships act as intermediaries to support those who intend to open new stores.

View full abstract