1887
Volume 31, Issue 2
  • ISSN 0957-6851
  • E-ISSN: 1569-9838
USD
Buy:$35.00 + Taxes

Abstract

Abstract

This paper explores the reality of ‘Japanese communities’ in London and the interrelation between language and identity. First, we trace the history of the Japanese community to around the beginning of the Meiji Era (1868–1912), when Japan emerged from national isolation. We then focus on one of the ‘communities’ established around the start of the 21st century by work-related and independent relocation. We present the life stories of two women who independently resided in London and shed light on the fluid nature of language maintenance and negotiation of identities. Through the close analysis of these personal experiences, we elucidate the complex reality of individuals who may be otherwise collectively understood as members of Japanese communities. These stories highlight the heterogeneity of the Japanese individuals in London, and therefore lead us to question the discursively constructed images of the ‘Japanese communities’- and the nature and importance of ‘language maintenance’.

Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1075/japc.00067.miy
2020-10-29
2024-12-12
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. Conte-Helm, M.
    (2012) The Japanese and Europe. London: Bloomsbury.
    [Google Scholar]
  2. Cobbing, A.
    (1998) The Japanese discovery of Victorian Britain. London, UK: Curzon.
    [Google Scholar]
  3. Doerr, N.
    (2010) Introduction: Heritage, nationhood, and language: Migrants with Japanese connections. Critical Asian Studies, 42, 53–62. 10.1080/14672710903537472
    https://doi.org/10.1080/14672710903537472 [Google Scholar]
  4. Doerr, N. & Lee, K.
    (2012) ‘Drop-outs’ or ‘heritage learners’? Competing mentalities of governmentality and invested meanings at a weekend Japanese language school in the USA. Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education33(4), 1–13.
    [Google Scholar]
  5. Fleming, M.
    (2010) The aims of language teaching and learning. Document prepared for thePolicy Forum The right of learners to quality and equity in education–The role of linguistic and intercultural competences. Council of Europe. rm.coe.int/09000016805a09ce
    [Google Scholar]
  6. Gaimusho (The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Japan)
    Gaimusho (The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Japan) (1997–2019) Annual Report of Statistics on Japanese Nationals Overseas. Retrieved2 April, 2020, fromhttps://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/toko/page22_000043.html
    [Google Scholar]
  7. Garcia, O & Li Wei
    (2014) Translanguaging: Language, bilingualism, and education. London: Palgrave. 10.1057/9781137385765
    https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137385765 [Google Scholar]
  8. Itoh, K.
    (2001) The Japanese community in Pre-War Britain. London, UK: Curzon.
    [Google Scholar]
  9. Kato, S.
    (2015) Nippon Club (1881–2014)InHugh Cortazzi (Ed.) Britain and Japan: Biographical portraits, IX (pp.54–65). London, UK: Renaissance Books. 10.2307/j.ctt1s17p5s.10
    https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt1s17p5s.10 [Google Scholar]
  10. Kim, M.
    (2011) Daini gengo no mamokenkyu no choryu. (A trendy of research on the 2nd language attrition.) Osaka Daigaku Shakai Gengogaku Kenkyu Noto, 9, 96–115.
    [Google Scholar]
  11. Koshiba, K., & Kurata, N.
    (2012) Language identities of Japanese home-background speakers and their language learning needs. Japanese Studies, 32, 357–375. 10.1080/10371397.2012.730481
    https://doi.org/10.1080/10371397.2012.730481 [Google Scholar]
  12. Miyake, K.
    (2014) Zaiei Nikkei diasupora no gengo-seikatsu: Kokusai kekkon shita nihonjin josei to komyuniti no keisei. (Ethnography of Speaking among Japanese diaspora in the UK: Japanese women with International marriage and formation of a community.) Bungaku Ronso, 88, 45–63.
    [Google Scholar]
  13. (2016a) Zaiei kokusai kekkon katei ni okeru Nihongo gakushu wo meguru oya no negai. (Conflict and acceptance over learning and maintaining Japanese between mothers and children of international marriage families). Japanese Language Education in Europe, 20, 120–126. https://www.eaje.eu/ja/symposium/25
    [Google Scholar]
  14. (2016b) Ido to teiju no aidentiti: Eikoku nihonjin-kai e no anketo chosa kekka no bunseki. (Identity between mobility and stability: An analysis of the survey results on Japan Association in the UK.) Toyo Tsushin, 53, 101–116.
    [Google Scholar]
  15. (2018) Kokusai-kekkon katei 2 se dai no ido to sentaku. (Mobility and choices of the mother and daughter in an International marriage family.) InKawakami, I., Miyake, K. & Iwasaki, N.eds. (2018) Ido to kotoba (Mobility and Language), Tokyo, Japan: Kurosio Shuppan.
    [Google Scholar]
  16. Nihon Imin Gakkai Eds.
    Nihon Imin Gakkai Eds. (2018) Nihonjin to kaigai iju: Imin no rekishi, genjo, tembo (Japanese Immigration Overseas: The history, current state, and vision). Tokyo, Japan: Akashi shoten.
    [Google Scholar]
  17. Oriyama, K.
    (2010) Heritage language maintenance and Japanese identity formation: What role can schooling and ethnic community contact play?Heritage Language Journal, 7(2), 237–272. 10.46538/hlj.7.2.5
    https://doi.org/10.46538/hlj.7.2.5 [Google Scholar]
  18. Sakai, J.
    (2000) Japanese bankers in the City of London: Language, Culture and identity in the Japanese diaspora. London, UK: Routledge.
    [Google Scholar]
  19. Suzuki, T.
    (2010) Learning to be transnational: Japanese language education for Bolivia’s Okinawan diaspora. Critical Asian Studies, 41, 63–88. 10.1080/14672710903537480
    https://doi.org/10.1080/14672710903537480 [Google Scholar]
  20. Takato, M.
    (2009) “Native speaker” status on border-crossing: The Okinawan Nikkei diaspora, national language, and heterogeneity. InN. Doerr. (Ed.) The native speaker concept. 17–28. De Gruyter. 10.1515/9783110220957.79
    https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110220957.79 [Google Scholar]
  21. Toyama, M., & Yamamoto, K.
    (2002) Second language attrition: Selected bibliography. Educational Studies, 44, 177–187.
    [Google Scholar]
  22. Toyama, M. & Imamura, N.
    (2010) Current studies in language attrition: bibliography. Educational Studies, 52, pp.157–166.
    [Google Scholar]
  23. Vogel, E.
    (1979) Japan as Number One: Lessons for America. Cambridge, USA: Harvard University Press. 10.4159/harvard.9780674366299
    https://doi.org/10.4159/harvard.9780674366299 [Google Scholar]
  24. White, P.
    (2003) The Japanese in London: From transience to settlement?InR. Goodman, C. Peach, A. Takenaka, & P. White (Eds.), Global Japan: The experience of Japan’s new immigrant and overseas communities (pp.79–97). London, UK: Routledge.
    [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/10.1075/japc.00067.miy
Loading
/content/journals/10.1075/japc.00067.miy
Loading

Data & Media loading...

  • Article Type: Research Article
Keyword(s): diversity; fluidity; heritage language; identity; Japanese community
This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was successful
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error