A case study of changes in the Chinese cultural identity of Japanese of Chinese descent from the perspective of life course theory

This study conducted in-depth interviews with Chinese-Japanese who had tortuous changes in their Chinese cultural identity, and utilized the life course theory to explore the process of social integration of Chinese-Japanese in Japanese society at the beginning of the 21st century and the factors influencing the changes in Chinese cultural identity. Previous studies on the cultural identity of Chinese-Japanese have been more macroscopic and lacked discussions on the factors influencing the changes in Chinese cultural identity. This paper focuses precisely on the individual Chinese and their interaction with the social environment, and finds that the Chinese, who were pressured by the society of their place of residence in the early period, had a rejection of Chinese culture, but they could exert their subjective initiative to actively maintain their identification with Chinese culture. Some major turning points in their lives can make them realize the value of Chinese language and culture, and influence their identification with Chinese culture and their entire life trajectory.