ABSTRACT
The Lehman Shock, the Great East Japan Earthquake and increasingly precarious labour regimes have resulted in rising numbers of Japanese questioning conventional forms of corporate working and living. This ethnography explores the trajectories of Japanese individuals who have relocated to Europe and opt for self-created work in the creative sector. The chapter examines the changes individuals experienced after their relocation, their social life and sense of belonging, self-perception before and after their move, work, gender roles and mid- and long-term plans. This study draws on semi-structured interviews and participant observation conducted in Austria, Germany and Portugal in 2016 and 2017. Empirical data suggests that Japanese migrants relocate for reasons of self-growth, inspiration and change. On the one hand, interviewees express high satisfaction with their daily lives. Yet, having eschewed conventional careers and familial engagement, they also mention their sense of liminality and pressure to turn their lives overseas into a personally fulfilling experience. By focusing on transnational Japanese who seek to pursue global careers, yet refer to Japan in multiple ways, this chapter explores new directions for Japanese Studies beyond Japan.
