Challenges of Integration in an ‘Ethnic’ Nation: Experience of the Second-Generation Brazilians of Japanese Descent (Nikkeijin) in Japan

This thesis examines the integration experiences of second-generation Japanese Brazilians in Japan, a group often referred to as the ‘invisible’ immigrants because of their ethnic ties to Japan yet frequent marginalisation within its society. Set against the backdrop of Japan’s incremental immigration policy, often likened to squeezing a toothpaste tube for its slow and cautious adjustments, this study investigates integration in a country that officially disavows formal immigration policies while pragmatically expanding them.

Through in-depth fieldwork, this thesis investigates how Japanese Brazilians—one of the largest immigrant groups in Japan with ancestral links—navigate the complex, multi-dimensional process of integration in a society that selectively accepts foreign residents while expecting cultural conformity. This thesis identifies four distinct integration pathways: marginalisation, partial integration, biculturalism, and assimilation. These pathways illustrate the interplay between legal status, socio-economic positioning, and cultural expectations, challenging linear integration models by demonstrating how these dimensions are interdependent and dynamically influence one another. Additionally, this thesis incorporates subjective indicators of integration to reveal how Japan’s emphasis on ethnic homogeneity impacts the identity and self-perceived social acceptance of this ‘invisible’ group.
 
By examining the lived experience of second-generation Japanese Brazilians, this research offers a new perspective on how integration unfolds within a non-Western cultural context. The findings suggest that economic pathways alone are insufficient; political recognition and cultural inclusion are equally critical for fostering a sense of belonging and a subjective sense of successful integration. This thesis sets the stage for future studies on integration in similarly ‘closed’ societies and calls for a rethinking of traditional integration frameworks to better accommodate the unique cultural contexts of host countries and the diverse realities of immigrant communities.