This study examines the difficulties faced by single fathers in Japan who must balance office work and housework/childcare on their own, in a society in which gender norms persist based on the modern family view. The study also investigates the daily spaces and factors that lead to single fathers losing their identity and becoming isolated. To obtain information, the narratives of six single fathers obtained through interviews were supplemented with discourse of books. The analysis revealed that single fathers may experience discomfort due to difficulties in balancing working as a “man” in the workplace and engaging in housework and childcare as a “single parent” at home. Furthermore, gender norms reinforced and reproduced in the “workplace/home” have permeated into living spaces, such as neighborhoods, schools and childcare facilities, government offices, and consumer spaces, causing single fathers to feel uncomfortable and alienated, leading to isolation. However, the remarkable social transformation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is changing the way men work, encouraging their participation in housework and childcare. This is likely to restructure the notion of “workplace/home.” Further, a relativization of gender norms may be underway. However, a new “home” problem in telecommuting has been pointed out, and reconstruction of the “workplace/home” may not be able to immediately eliminate spatial isolation. More detailed empirical studies are needed to address the deep-rooted issues pertaining to gender norms.

The growing influx of Chinese immigrants in recent years has significantly shaped the formation of ethnic urban landscapes across Japan, with Osaka City’s Shinsaibashi district emerging as a prominent example due to its increasing number of Chinese-owned businesses. The aim of this study is to examine the residential patterns and community characteristics of 22 Chinese newcomers working in Shinsaibashi through in-depth interviews. The findings reveal that, while Shinsaibashi has become a focal point for Chinese ethnic businesses, inter-business collaboration within the community and with other ethnic groups remains limited, distinguishing it from traditional Chinatowns. High property costs mean that the “live-work unit” model is rarely observed, resulting in a dispersed residential pattern in surrounding areas. Social relationships are more strongly centered around family than shared nationality. Although online platforms play a crucial role in facilitating information exchange and mutual support, face-to-face interactions among community members are minimal. These features challenge the explanatory power of spatial assimilation theory, which emphasizes physical and social integration into the host society. Instead, the concept of heterolocalism, which emphasizes community formation across a larger geographic area through loose connections with digital technologies, offers a more suitable framework for explaining the current situation of the Chinese ethnic community in Shinsaibashi.