Formation of New Ethnic Towns in Japan and its Effect on the Local Economy: A Case Study of Nishi-Kawaguchi Chinatown

This study examines the formation of Nishi-Kawaguchi Chinatown, a new, socially accepted neighborhood in the suburbs of a greater metropolitan area in Japan, with a growing settlement of foreign residents. The study highlights factors leading to the formation of ethnic towns in Japan’s regional communities and their social and economic impact by addressing three research questions: What factors led to Chinese immigrants settling in Nishi-Kawaguchi? Why are there so many Chinese restaurants in Nishi-Kawaguchi? How did the formation of Nishi-Kawaguchi Chinatown impact the local economy? An interview survey of restaurant owners in Nishi-Kawaguchi Chinatown was conducted, and the resultant data were analyzed. The study found that Chinese people settled in Nishi-Kawaguchi because (a) the rentals and land prices were low and (b) the area offered easy access to the city center. These factors led to the concentration of Chinese restaurants in Nishi-Kawaguchi. The results suggest that the formation of Nishi-Kawaguchi Chinatown by Chinese ethnopreneurs has revitalized the local economy by attracting Japanese tourists, as the multi-ethnicity found in Nishi-Kawaguchi Chinatown is rare in Japan.