ON THE MAKING OF THE MODERN CONCEPT OF "DIASPORA" - AND A LOOK AT THE RETURN MIGRATION OF JAPANESE DIASPORA TO JAPAN

Abstract: My paper is divided into two complementary parts at the superordinate level. The first part offers a critique of the prevailing terminological tools of the topic under discussion here, and serves as conceptual groundwork for the second part, while the second part offers a critical socio-historical analysis of migration and return migration to and from Japan. In the first part, I examine the historical and conceptual evolution of the term "diaspora," beginning with its etymological roots in the Old Testament, where it was framed as a form of divine punishment. I trace its subsequent adaptation into the social sciences as a generalized term for displaced communities, critiquing the modern usage of "diaspora" and "migration." I argue that these terms, particularly within the context of late capitalism, have been shaped by social-scientific discourse in ways that often obscure and distort the nuanced complexities of human mobility. The second part shifts focus to the Japanese diaspora, providing a sociohistorical lens on major migration flows, particularly during the Meiji Restoration, when the Japanese state actively promoted emigration to regions such as the United States and South America for economic and colonial purposes. This section critically examines the state’s role in these migration processes and transitions to an analysis of return migration. Special attention is given to the experiences of Nikkei individuals returning to Japan from South America during the late 20th century, highlighting the Japanese government’s recruitment of ethnic Japanese as unskilled labourers to address labour shortages in the 1980s and their subsequent marginalization following the 2008 financial crisis. These movements are contextualized within broader, state-driven migration policies. Ultimately, my paper critiques both historical and contemporary frameworks for understanding migration, arguing that dominant social-scientific terminologies often fail to capture the lived realities of migration and return migration experiences. By integrating conceptual and socio-historical critique, the aim is to stimulate a more nuanced understanding of these phenomena.