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Paper short abstract

This ethnographic research examines Indian migrant workers in Japan under the TITP and SSW visa schemes. Linking India’s young workforce to Japan’s ageing economy, it shows how efficiency-driven labour programs shape work, time, and wellbeing, often obscuring migrants’ physical and emotional costs.

Paper long abstract

The labour economy is reshaped by demographic asymmetries, as workforce-scarce ageing societies increasingly turn to labour-abundant countries to address shortages. Japan and India exemplify this dynamic: Japan faces acute labour shortages driven by its ageing population, while India’s young workforce confronts limited domestic opportunities despite economic growth. This mismatch has opened new pathways for Indian workers migrating to Japan through the Technical Intern Training Program and the Specified Skilled Worker visa, particularly in manufacturing, construction, agriculture, food processing, and nursing care.

Based on ethnographic research with Indian migrant workers in Japan, this paper highlights migrants’ narratives to examine how work, time, and wellbeing are negotiated within Japan’s demanding labour regime. One worker noted, “I was only given five days of holiday to go back to India—two days go in travel,” illustrating how institutional schedules compress family life and transnational belonging. Others described opting for night shifts because “it pays us more,” while simultaneously expressing anxiety about long-term health impacts. Such accounts reveal how economic calculation, physical endurance, and moral responsibility toward family are tightly interwoven in everyday decision-making.

While scholarship on migration to Japan has focused on Southeast Asian workers, the presence of Indian migrants under these visa categories remains underexamined. This paper explores the gendered allocation of work across sectors, the role of intermediary agencies, and cultural norms shaping workplace integration. The paper argues that while transnational labour programs are designed for efficiency, they often hide the everyday physical and emotional costs faced by migrant workers.