Title: "The First Encounter of Southeast Asian Care Workers with Japanese Patients and Cared Elderly: Examinations on Controversial Human-Mobility Projects under the Economic Partnership Agreements"
Speaker: Dr. Shun Ohno, Visiting Professor of Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University
Date: July 14th（Thurs.), 2011, 12:00 - 13:30
Place: Tonan-tei (Room No. 201) on the 2nd floor of Inamori Foundation Memorial Building, Kyoto University
Abstract:
One year after Japan became a ‘super-aging society’ in 2007, it began to receive Indonesian and Filipino nurses and caregivers in its labor market, and might be accept Vietnamese and Indian care workers in the near future. This new government- government (G-G) project commenced in accordance with Japan’s Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the Philippines and Indonesia having huge young populations. Between 2008 and 2011, a total of over 1,300 Indonesian and Filipino nurse and certified care worker (kaigo-fukushishi) ‘candidates’ have entered Japan, and have been under training and employment all over Japan. Expectedly or unexpectedly, they have faced a number of problems at their workplaces that were not opened to foreign workers until recently. Based on his extensive fieldwork in Japan and abroad, the lecturer will overview the past implementation of the EPA programs and discuss the limitations and possibilities of border-crossing care in the country of linguistic homogeneity.
Self-introduction
Shun Ohno received his MA from University of the Philippines Asian Center, and his PhD from Faculty of Asian Studies, Australian National University. He has experiences to work as a staff writer and assistant editor for Mainichi Shimbun for 22 years. He worked as president of Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines in 1994-95. He joined Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University as a visiting professor in 2010 after he finished to work as director of Kyushu University Asia Center. He has worked as representative of the international research team on border-crossing care workers from Southeast Asia to Japan since 2007. His publications include Media Bunka to Sogo Imeiji Keisei - Nicchūkan no Aratana Kadai [Media culture and mutual images: New issues for Japan, China and Korea] (ed.), Kyushu Daigaku Shuppan-kai, 2010; Japanese Diasporas: Unsung Pasts, Conflicting Presents, and Uncertain Future (coauthored), Routledge, 2006; Kankō Kōsu de nai Firipin - Rekishi to Genzai, Nihon to no Kankei-shi [Alternative courses in the Philippines: History, present and historical relations with Japan], 3rd edn. Kobunken, 2000.