ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the political attitudes and civic participation of the contemporary Japanese migrant community in Australia. It draws on a large-scale survey conducted in 2016 and follow-up interviews with residents in Sydney. The dataset reveals a notably low political interest and engagement, particularly among first-generation female migrants, who make up the majority of the sample. Despite high social and economic integration, political involvement remains limited, a condition shaped by Japan’s single-nationality regime, low naturalisation rates and entrenched gender norms. Notably, the survey indicates that most respondents hold permanent residency rather than Australian citizenship, preventing them from formally participating in politics, such as by voting. While female respondents reported comparatively high engagement in local volunteer work and neighbourhood activities, this did not translate into conventional political mobilisation. Instead, civic agency was observed in informal advocacy, particularly among mothers campaigning for equitable access to education for their children. These activities suggest a sub-political engagement rooted in domestic responsibilities and community involvement. Hence, political consciousness is more grounded in everyday gendered practices within transnational households than in collective identity or institutional participation. These findings necessitate a re-evaluation of migrant political culture.
