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On-line editor: Janet R. Goodwin <jan@cs.csustan.edu>
H-JAPAN (E)
June 20, 2011
(1) From: Georg Blind <georg.blind@gmx.net>
Re: empirical evidence on "flyjin" vs. "fryjin"; ample statistics
available
This is both a response to an earlier question on this list, and a comment
to Dana Buntrock's post.
Concise entry and departure statistics are available from Ministry of Justice:
http://www.moj.go.jp/housei/toukei/toukei_ichiran_nyukan.html
The latest available tables are for March 2011. Total "gaijin" departures
were about 1% down from March 2010. In contrast, US citizens were down
about 20%; citizens of European countries about 5%.
As soon as available, April data will show the full extent of the exodus
if corrected for overall fluctuation (e.g., from a comparison of February
to April changes in 2010).
While interesting as an individual observation, Dana Buntrock's gaijin
counts, are methodologically highly questionable. The following - not too
serious example - might illustrate this: let's define "fryjin" as
foreigners working in Japanese KFC restaurants. Let's assume one would
count fryjin presence in 10 different locations in Tokyo. Would that yield
a reliable picture of the "fryjin" situation? 1. The mere count of
"fryjin" would need to be compared to the number of Japanese staff. - How
many Japanese did Dana Buntrock count during her survey? 2. How many
"fryjin" were there one year ago; i.e., was there a change in the number
of "fryjin"? - And putting 1. and 2. together, was there some change in
the share of "fryjin"? 3. Are observations at Tokyo KFC restaurants
representative for the whole country? In that sense, the church example is
by far more telling than the street counts.
Best,
Georg
____________________________
Georg Blind
Research Fellow and Lecturer
The University of Zurich
Institute of East Asian Studies
8032 Zurich
Switzerland
(2) From: Cecilia <ceciliafujishima@gmail.com>
With respect, I am not sure how constructive it is to be adopting the term
"flyjin". Though the term may appear to be cute and clever, in reality in
the Kanto area in particular it is a loaded word that in some circles has
become derisive and abusive. The term flyjin trivialises the reality that
there is an evacuation zone in place and that there is a serious radiation
problem - the extent of which is still not clearly determined. It also fails
to consider that people who left were in many cases acting on embassy
advice or company instructions. I have been in Tokyo since the earthquake,
except for a Golden Week sojourn in Tohoku, with no thought of leaving but
have been dismayed at the macho vitriol around who stayed and who left. It's
disappointing to see the term being picked up unproblematised in academic
circles.
A spot count of conspicuous foreigners on the streets of Tokyo tells nothing
about the numbers of people who have left Tokyo. In particular it ignores a
distinction between residents (short and long term) and tourists. It also
ignores the fact that most foreigners (both resident and tourists) are
Asian. A spot count that has no control, defines foreigners in racial
terms (which probably labels Chinese, Korean, Taiwanese, Singaporeans and
many other SE Asians as Japanese) and conflates people that have actively
left with people that decided not come, is meaningless.
For the dip (plunge) in foreign visitor numbers the Ministry of Justice data
is much more useful. http://www.tourism.jp/english/statistics/inbound.php
Cecilia Fujishima
Tokyo
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