Migration and the life course in contemporary Japan

Abstract

This paper explores the relationship between migration and the life course in Japan. It does so by analysing a matrix of correlation coefficients where each coefficient measures the relationship between a set of age-specific net internal migration rates by prefecture (for example, for people aged 24-29), and a set of age structure location quotients by prefecture (for example, for people aged 60-64) (the location quotient measures the ratio of the local % in a particular age-group to the national % for the same age-group). An extremely distinctive pattern of correlation emerges. This is analysed both on its own terms, and through a comparison with the equivalent pattern for Britain (England, Wales and Scotland). Surprising differences are discovered and interpreted.