Paper short abstract:

This paper looks at to what extent Nagoya City's policies for foreign residents is facilitating their integration. Seeing integration as multi-dimensional, findings suggest that while structurally integrated, identificational integration seems to be incomplete for Filipino foreign residents.

Paper long abstract:

The literature suggests that integration should be a two-way process in that both receiving societies and migrants are recognized as able to shape migration realities. Japan has been criticized for its restrictive immigration policies yet, foreign residents have access to most social services that a Japanese citizen can access. In a survey I conducted as part of a case study in Nagoya City, Filipino migrants reported living good lives in Japan. Able to access jobs, cheap housing and health services, majority of them feel that their lives have improved after coming to the country. Contrary to expectations however, many of them said that they would eventually go back to the Philippines until their goals, economic and personal, have been achieved. The question this paper asks then is: To what extent are Filipino migrants integrated in Japan?

Seeing social integration as composed of different dimensions, I argue that while structurally integrated, identificational integration seems to be incomplete for Filipino migrants. The local government of Nagoya City has been implementing various programs to facilitate employment of migrants and to provide for various social services. However, for many Filipino residents in the City, access to these services happens through their Filipino networks. As a result many of them feel "at home" in Japan and able to survive only because of their Filipino connections. Coupling this with the top-down and incremental approach of the City towards foreign resident integration, findings suggest that as a result there is no real incentive, nor effort, to integrate into the Japanese society.