Dear friends and colleagues,



I am writing to invite you to the next meeting of the PhD Kenkyuukai, hosted by the Institute of Social Science, University of Tokyo, from 12:20-1:45pm on May 24th (Thursday).



Please note that the meeting room is *Rm 108 / Daiichi Kaigishitsu*, different from our usual location.


Speaker: *Chaline Timmerarens (Freie Universitat Berlin)*

Title: *"The Role of Mediating Institutions for Brazilian Return Migrants in Japan"*

Time: *May 24 (Thu), 12:20-1:45pm*

Location: *Rm. 108, ISS / Shaken Main Building*

http://www.iss.u-tokyo.ac.jp/guide/index.html <http://www.iss.u-tokyo.ac.jp/guide/index.html>



The presenter will be *Chaline Timmerarens,* a doctoral candidate in Japanese Studies at the Graduate School of East Asian Studies at Freie Universitat Berlin. She is currently affiliated with Waseda University, while also conducting fieldwork in Hamamatsu / Shizuoka.



*ABSTRACT*

*"**The Role of Mediating Institutions for Brazilian Return Migrants in Japan**"*Since the 1990s many descendants of Japanese migrants (Nikkeijin) living in Brazil 'returned' to Japan, where they today constitute the fifth largest group of foreigners. As many have decided to stay in Japan for the time being, issues like integration and multiculturalism have gained importance, especially on the local level.
Based on qualitative field research in cities with a high population of Brazilians, especially Hamamatsu (Shizuoka), I analyze how institutions like cultural centers, international associations, libraries, churches, and NPOs affect the process of integration of the diaspora of Brazilian return migrants in Japan into the host society and their relation to Japanese residents. They might foster, but also hinder integration, multiculturalism, and mutual understanding.



Kenneth Mori McElwain

Associate Professor
Institute of Social Science
University of Tokyo

www.kennethmcelwain.com <http://www.kennethmcelwain.com/>

mcelwain@iss.u-tokyo.ac.jp <mailto:mcelwain@iss.u-tokyo.ac.jp>


<mailto:mcelwain@iss.u-tokyo.ac.jp>