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Paper short abstract:

The pressures of globalization and migration make ageing an increasingly intercultural process. Those who cross cultural borders eventually grow old and experience a series of losses. This paper illustrates various forms of well-being among ageing Japanese overseas, in the USA, Brazil and Europe.

Paper long abstract:

Elderly populations have increased steadily but dramatically in recent years, and in the past few decades ageing--especially in highly developed countries--has become one of the world's most serious issues. Planning for an active and fulfilling retirement has become vital for those immediately involved in the ageing process: the elderly, caregivers (families and care workers) and policy makers.

The pressures of globalization and migration make ageing an increasingly intercultural process. Those who cross societal and cultural borders eventually grow old and experience a series of losses in physical strength, social roles or family relationships. Ageing is more than a sequence of changes in an individual; it is also a group experience that varies from culture to culture. In multicultural societies like the USA, Brazil, and Europe, the ageing process differs from one ethnic group to another. Nonwhite elderly people--not all but many of them--find themselves in 'double jeopardy,' suffering from both racial discrimination and ageism. Their ageing experience of Japanese overseas is essentially dissimilar to that of the so-called 'elderly.'

How have Japanese overseas been ageing actively in a multicultural society? How has the ethnic community contributed to the well-being of the elderly? This paper will answer these questions by illustrating various forms of well-being among ageing Japanese overseas in the USA, Brazil, and Europe. This ethnographic research is based on fieldwork conducted intermittently from 1998 to 2013.