ABSTRACT
In an era of increasing global interconnectedness, the transformative power of mobility is understated. In tandem, the identities of young people with mixed Japanese backgrounds are often overlooked. In this chapter, I explore the intricate connections between mobility and personhood, using the concept of ‘tangled mobilities’. I draw on interviews with eleven mixed Japanese and Australian youth to examine how they navigate a multifaceted sense of belonging across diverse social and cultural spaces. Additionally, I investigate how external factors, such as Japan’s Nationality Law and the COVID-19 pandemic, constrain their mobilities. My findings show that the absence of travel in the COVID-19 era underscored the importance of migration and mobility in maintaining connections with family, language and culture. I argue that international mobility is a vital rite of passage for young people of mixed backgrounds, facilitating journeys of self-discovery and strengthening family connections overseas.
