Reconsidering Overseas Emigration in Early Twentieth-century Okinawa: The Case of Nakaoshi District, Haneji Village

Abstract

This study aimed to reconsider the formation of an overseas emigration area in Okinawa during the first half of the twentieth century. The Nakaoshi district of Haneji village, from which many people migrated to Brazil, was selected as the study area. A variety of evidence was used to elucidate trends in migration, such as oral histories and the Japanese Immigration List in Brazil. The results showed that migration from Nakaoshi district increased after the land reform of 1903 and that many heads of households or their successors emigrated between the 1900s and 1940s. Some successors accumulated assets after migration and returned home to inherit the family property. Conversely, other successors remained at their destination and gave their children the option to go back to Okinawa and receive an education before returning overseas to prepare for generation change. In addition, when the heads of households moved, residents of their place of origin gained control over some household assets, while the mortuary tablets were moved to the migrating destination and family events took place away from the original community. This study thus clarified how, in Okinawa between the 1900s and 1940s, blood relations in the areas of origin expanded transnationally with emigration.