NEWS
2025.11.26
【Publication】Dr. Yusy Widarahesty’s book, Dreaming of a Better Life: Journeys of Indonesian Migrant Workers to Japan, has been published!
Dr. Yusy Widarahesty (Senior Researcher, Ritsumeikan Asia-Japan Research Organization, Ritsumeikan University) has published her monograph, Dreaming of a Better Life: Journeys of Indonesian Migrant Workers to Japan (2025, Palgrave Macmillan Singapore; written in English). This book was written based on her dissertation and subsequent research activities at the Asia-Japan Research Institute (AJI).You can check the table of contents from the following link: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-981-96-9156-2
Dr. Yusy’s book offers a detailed examination of how Indonesian migrants seek a better life through migration, placing their aspirations in Japan and hoping to fulfill their dreams there. This book explores an emerging field within Japan’s labor migration studies, providing in-depth insights that reveal the complexities of Japan’s Technical Intern Trainee Program (TITP), seen not only from the viewpoint of the host country but especially from that of the country of origin. In this context, the book investigates Indonesia’s involvement in the TITP.
One element that distinguishes this book from earlier literature on the topic is Dr. Yusy's examination of Japan's TITP from the viewpoint of a sending country like Indonesia. Given that TITP is based on bilateral agreements, it is essential to analyze the role of the sending country in order to uncover the intricate issues involved. In this context, the book seeks to bridge the gap by exploring the program from Indonesia's perspective as a sending nation.
Dr. Yusy thoroughly investigates the functions of the various stakeholders, including the Indonesian government, the overseeing organizations, the Indonesian community, alumni, and the trainees themselves, through three interconnected phases: (1) the pre-departure phase, (2) the on-program phase, and (3) the post-program phase. Her book analyzes the contributions of these actors at each stage and their impact on the establishment and reinforcement of Japan's TITP, making it a unique and valuable contribution to the field of migration studies.
Currently, Dr. Yusy is researching the “Labor at the Threshold: Gatekeeping, Mobility, and ASEAN-Japan Partnerships.” Her research interests encompass migration, labor migration and mobility, human security, and mobility in Japan and Southeast Asia.