THE DREAM OF JAPAN: REPRESENTATIONS AND MIGRATION EXPERIENCES AMONG FORMER INDONESIAN MIGRANT YOUTH
Keywords:
Indonesian migrant workers, Japan, migration, representationAbstract
Japan is one of the top five destinations for young Indonesians seeking employment abroad. Its reputation as a developed country offering high wages, safety, and better living standards has encouraged many Indonesian youths to pursue work opportunities in Japan. This study aims to examine the representations of Japan which are constructed among Indonesian migrant workers and how these representations relate to their lived experiences of working in Japan. Using an interpretive qualitative approach, data were collected through in-depth interviews with five former Indonesian migrant workers who had returned to Indonesia. The findings show that many participants initially viewed Japan as a place that could provide financial security, social prestige, and a better future. However, their experiences revealed difficult working conditions, economic pressures, and challenges in achieving long-term financial stability. Despite these experiences, several participants still expressed a desire to return to Japan due to limited economic opportunities in Indonesia. This study argues that representations of Japan are shaped not only through media and migration-related institutions but also through socio-economic conditions that position overseas migration as an attractive pathway for upward mobility among Indonesian youth.
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