FACTORS OF URBAN-RURAL MIGRATION AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITION OF I-TURN MIGRANTS IN RURAL JAPAN

Abstract

This paper analyses the reasons for I-turn migration and the actual economic situation (measured by their income level, savings and expenditure) as well as their true social situation (assessed by the nature of relationship that exist between them and the villagers) in these communities as compared to those conditions they had while they were in urban areas. The study was conducted in some selected rural areas of Nara and Kyoto Prefectures. A structured questionnaire was designed and distributed to I-turners in the research areas and descriptive statistics were used to analyse the responses of the I-turners. The study revealed that the main reasons why I- turners moved to the rural areas are; preference to quiet and relaxed rural life (51.1%), to be engaged in agriculture (31.9%) and strong desire to raise kids in the rural environment (29.8%). The economic situation of the I-turners was not so favourable as most of them earned a lower income (59.6%) after moving from the cities. They also have to cope with decreased savings (44.7%), and some I-turners (27.7%) indicated that they do not save at all. At the same time, majority of them (60%) indicated that their expenditure was higher in the city compared to now that they are in the village. One of the reasons they gave for reduced expenditure in the rural area is as a result of a bilateral and close relationship that exist between them and their neighbours via various direct helps and indirect helps they receive from them. Nevertheless, these I-turners were often resisted by the influential village elders and old residents who were reluctant to accept innovative ideas from them. I-turners were expected to close the gap between them and the uncooperative members of the community by actively involving in village works and other social responsibilities. Based on the research findings, this paper concludes that the I-turners being faced with harsh economic condition and other uncomfortabilities, can be sustained in the rural areas where they perform a wide range of roles in solving rural problems if the attractions that the rural areas hold for them (which motivated their migration into these areas in the first place) are not tampered with. Also, the sustainability of these I-turn migrants in the rural area is highly dependent on the quality of relationship that exist between them and original members of each village community. This conclusion is based on the fact that the I-turners, though currently confronted with diverse economic and social challenges, still display a level of contentment in the rural life as a result of various gains of living in these areas (including their original reasons for migration) and the rich social relationship that exist between them and some of the cooperative villagers.