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Contexts of Inflow and Socio-spatial Characteristics of Immigrant Workers in Japan: Focusing on the Case of Hiroshima Prefecture  

Choi, Byung-Doo (Dept. of Geography Education, Daegu University)
Lee, Dong-Suk (Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University)
Publication Information
Journal of the Korean Geographical Society / v.45, no.3, 2010 , pp. 390-413 More about this Journal
Abstract
Facing reconfiguration of world economic order in the process of globalization and changes in domestic economic and social conditions, Japan has experienced a rapid inflow of foreign immigrants and hence a restructuring of labor market and ethic and cultural mixture. This paper explores contexts of inflow and social and spatial characteristics of immigrant workers in Japan. Uneven regional development on the global level and shifting to flexible accumulation regime, depletion of previously underutilized labor resource, better-educated youth and shrinking and aging of Japanese populace on the national level can be pointed out as important elements of immigration contexts. This paper also explains the hierarchizaton of labor market and differentiation of spatial distribution of immigrant workers in Japan in terms of visa condition and nationality. In particular, focusing on the case of Hiroshima prefecture, this paper analyzes residential differentiation of immigrants according to their nationality. Finally, it finds out some problems which immigrant workers have confronted in Hiroshima region.
Keywords
Japan; foreign immigrants; immigrant worker; labor market; Hiroshima; immigrant's problems;
Citations & Related Records
Times Cited By KSCI : 3  (Citation Analysis)
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