My dissertation project, “Lost in Neverland,” examines the complex dynamics of temporary, uncertain migration in Japan’s peri-urban and rural areas since the 1980s. I consider how Japan’s non-institutionalized immigration policy approach has shaped the integration, belonging, and community dynamics of temporary migrants amidst the country’s significant labour shortages. Through meticulously examining policy effects and migrant narratives, the research uncovers the multifaceted challenges and strategies of migrant life in less urbanized landscapes.

The qualitative study examines migrants’ socio-economic conditions through in-depth interviews and policy analysis. It examines how policies affect migrants’ chances and challenges to help them integrate into Japanese society.

Through the lived experiences of temporary migrants, “Lost in Neverland” contributes valuable insights into the discussions on migration, policy, and socio-economic sustainability. The project underscores the importance of policy frameworks that recognize and address the complex realities facing migrants in Japan, proposing informed strategies for fostering inclusive and cohesive communities.

This research examines the rise of “Hand-Cash” jobs in Japan’s peri-urban cities, particularly Ibaraki Prefecture. Since the 1980s, immigrants have increasingly worked in non-regular, part-time, and informal cash-paying jobs driven by labour demand. This study examines why immigrants choose risky jobs despite health and visa hazards.

The research examines the mechanisms and motives of these employment arrangements using ethnographic studies, comprehensive interviews with immigrants, historical data, and Internet job ads. The first section discusses non-regular and informal employment in Japan, including negotiation and management, and places it in analytical frameworks relevant to precarious labour circumstances in industrialized nations.

The next part examines why Japanese enterprises use “Hand-Cash” labour and its commercial ramifications. I conclude by synthesizing these data to examine the complicated relationship between human agency, societal constructions, and market dynamics and how these work practices are changing urban landscapes and communities.

In “People, Precarity, and Profit,” I explore a socio-economic phenomenon at the intersection of migration, labour, and the economy to show how urban spaces and individual livelihoods in contemporary Japan are shaped by nuanced interdependencies.

At the heart of my research is a commitment to sustainability, viewed through the multifaceted perspectives of anthropology and human geography. This project emphasizes mixed and interdisciplinary methodologies to address sustainability challenges, particularly in the context of migration and labour shortages.

It reflects how sustainability-focused research can bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, aiming to foster policies promoting economic, social, and environmental well-being.