The Japanese Overseas: Can They Go Home Again?

The astonishing success of Japanese corporations throughout the world has transplanted millions of Japanese into foreign lands, but returning families face a crisis—a problematic, sometimes traumatic reunion with an inward-looking culture. Drawing on scores of in-depth interviews, Merry White explores the personal and social consequences of a problem that is fully recognized as a national issue in Japan. She pays particular attention to the plight of the returnee Japanese child—a stranger in his or her own land. “In this knowledgeable and perceptive book, [Merry White] describes how families who have returned from prolonged sojourns abroad endure damaged careers and spoiled educational prospects.”—Joan Cassell, The New York Times Book Review “An invaluable source of insights into the problems that Japanese overseas face and the strategies they pursue, both in adjusting to life in foreign countries and in preparing for what may or may not be a hospitable welcome when they arrive back home.”—Theodore C. Bestor, The Journal of Asian Studies

Originally published in 1992.

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