Dialogue to the Future: Interviews with a New Generation of Researchers in the AJI

The 9^th Interview

Interview with Dr. Aoi MOCHIZUKI

―― Dr. Mochizuki, Thank you for taking the time to do this interview today. First, could you tell me what led you to decide on a career as a researcher?

Mochizuki: Thank you for asking this question. I originally intended to work for a company when I went to college, and I was job-hunting from my third to fourth year of undergraduate studies. But, at the same time, since I strongly aspired to tackle the issues of peacebuilding and multicultural coexistence, I was quite torn apart by these two options. In the end, I decided to apply to graduate school because my undergraduate seminar was very exciting and interesting for me, and I was compelled to dig into my awareness of problems from a research perspective. As the graduate course I belonged to was the five-year Integrated Doctoral Program, I initially had in mind to become a researcher at the moment I entered graduate school. At a get-together after the graduate school entrance ceremony, I still remember that I was deeply impressed by the words from my former supervisor, who said, “‘I-want-to-be-a-researcher’ is not enough. Let’s say, ‘I’ll be a researcher.’” This word really encouraged me. After that, I worked hard in my own way to get my Ph.D., and I completed it within the course's standard term. Looking back now, as my mentor said, it was quite important for me to prepare myself in the earlier stage of my academic life to become a researcher.

――Right. As you said, there is indeed a huge difference between saying, “I want to be a researcher,” and “I will be a researcher.” You are specialized in area studies of Middle East and Syrian refugees. Why did you choose these areas and issues as your research field?

Mochizuki: Well, first of all, if the terrorist attacks of 9/11 in 2001 and the subsequent war in Iraq hadn’t occurred, I wouldn’t have chosen my current research topic and wouldn’t even have aspired to be a researcher. I was in my early elementary school years at the time, and I was pretty shocked to see the images of the terrorist attacks on TV and the process of the war starting. These inspired this elementary school student and led me to inquiries about the causes of wars, the concept of peace, and the impact of war on people’s lives, which remain my current research topic.

――Ah, you watched that sensational news about 9.11 at that time. It might be that your generation is the last generation that has a vivid memory of 9.11 as a historical event. I could see that your experience of it has heightened your concerns about peace and war. Well, when it comes to your childhood, you lived abroad then, right? How has this experience influenced your current research activities?

Mochizuki: Yes, I spent about ten years of my childhood in Europe because of my father’s work. It has had a huge influence on my research. Even though I was Japanese, at that time I didn't know Japan well, but I wasn’t integrated into European society either. As a child, I always struggled with the feeling of not belonging to any society. In my undergraduate years, I encountered a study that accurately described this feeling and found that my experiences were common among people who were mobile. In this process, I became strongly interested in migration and refugee studies because I thought I could make the most of my experiences. In my doctoral dissertation, I tried to examine the issues of rebuilding the foundations for survival of Syrian refugees and their sense of belonging. I chose the Middle East region as my research field because the Iraq War sparked my research interest, and that region was also the main region of origin for refugees in the world. Subsequently, I decided to study the issue of Syrian refugees when I first met with my supervisor at the graduate school.

――I can understand how the challenges you must have faced, not only in terms of the impact of war and peace, but also in relation to your own sense of "belonging" and "identity," have led you to focus on the Syrian refugee issue. I heard that you have conducted fieldwork in Jordan and various European countries. Do you have any specific memories or significant events from your experiences there?

Mochizuki: Well, the most memorable for me was being allowed to stay with a Syrian refugee family in Jordan. There, I learned a lot about life in Syria, about Islam, and about Arabic phrases. The homemade meals provided by the host mother were really wonderful, and I really looked forward to every meal. I could also get a glimpse of the hardships of their lives as refugees. When I became acutely aware that the fact that I was staying with them and paying for my accommodation was also an important source of income for them, I felt that I was becoming truly involved in the community. I still keep in frequent touch with this host family.

――Interesting. It is not just mere observation, but interacting with local people. In this sense, fieldwork raises a researcher’s experience of life. So, how was it in Europe?

Mochizuki: In Europe, it was very difficult to contact Syrian refugees. I think that a researcher from Asia looks quite suspicious, so it is natural. But Muslim people, whom I met at mosques and dormitories where I stayed, helped me to do that. They were interested in my research topic and helped me conduct field research there. From this experience, I felt the power of the Islamic Ummah (Islamic community). Surprisingly, when I told random people that I was interested in Islam and the Middle East, I had positive reactions, even from people I had just met on the street. To this extent, my research is supported by many people in Jordan and in Europe. I really appreciate them.

——So, your research cannot be completed without the cooperation of those local people. At the same time, conducting in-depth research on individuals living in vastly different contexts from Japan sounds very exciting. Also, I believe that multicultural coexistence will become an increasingly important issue in Japan in the future. Do you have any thoughts on multicultural coexistence from your perspective of studying Syrian refugees?

Mochizuki: I believe that the first step towards multicultural coexistence is recognizing that, despite our diverse cultural and religious backgrounds, we are all human. Sadly, when I lived in Germany, I did experience discrimination, but even so, most people would talk to me in German or ask me for directions without viewing me through the lens of being “Asian” or a “foreigner.” During my 2019 fieldwork in Europe, I was frequently asked for directions by locals, although I am was foreigner. Throughout my childhood, many people taught me that it doesn't matter what your hair color or skin color is; all people are equal. I also believe that learning about the backgrounds of immigrants and refugees will provide an opportunity for multicultural coexistence to grow. My desire to understand the situation in Syria and the living conditions of Syrian refugees in refugee camps and urban areas has inspired me to conduct my research.

――I understand the importance of accepting cultural and religious differences as well as acknowledging the diverse realities experienced by people in a multicultural society. I also have a question about gender equality in Japanese academia. How do you feel about the University’s promotion of gender equality in research?

Mochizuki: Thus far, I have not encountered any disadvantages in conducting research as a woman. I believe the university is also making active efforts to support diversity. However, after hearing the stories of some senior female researchers, it is evident that there are still barriers hindering female researchers, particularly regarding parenting. I hope to see the creation of an environment where individuals can conduct research in a supportive manner regardless of gender. I believe this is an issue that our generation should address moving forward.

――I agree. The foundation has been laid for the next generation of researchers, including yourself, and for the future participation of female researchers. Thank you for your important insight into this issue. Let me ask about your published book, Refugee Resettlement as a Global Issue: Thoughts on the Foundation of Belongingness and the Survival of Syrian Refugees in Foreign Countries (2023, written in Japanese). Could you tell me about your recent research topic and how it relates to your book?

Mochizuki: Thank you for mentioning my book. My book focuses on the religious and cultural affiliation of Syrian refugees. It discusses the process of rebuilding the basis of their survival. Recently, I have been conducting research focusing on the involvement of many people, including individual actors and NGOs, in supporting Syrian refugees and promoting social integration. I also keep exploring how Syrian refugees leverage their assets, including their legal status, ethnic ties, tribal ties, religious solidarity, etc., to gain a foothold in their host communities. There is still little research on the solidarity between more recent Syrian refugees and previous long-term immigrants, so I want to clarify this. In addition, the emergence of the Ukrainian refugee problem has increased the importance of resolving the refugee issue, and the question of whom should be accepted as refugees has reappeared in Japan. So, I’m also re-addressing the theoretical question of the boundaries that define immigrants, refugees, irregular migrants, and so on.

——Exactly. The Ukrainian refugees triggered a public discussion on the issue of accepting them and other refugees in Japan. In this sense, you are approaching the currently ongoing and actual problems. Can you tell me, what do you find attractive in your recent research?

Mochizuki: The more I learn, the more interested I become about research because the world becomes multifaceted and multi-dimensional. It is an exhilarating time for researchers to engage in discussions with individuals who are closely aligned with their area of interest. The COVID-19 pandemic also hindered me from doing fieldwork for a long time, but I could continue to work and finally make it until now. After all, being able to visit the site brings up new research ideas and topics that I want to investigate, which continues motivates me. For me, fieldwork is a time to reexamine how I see things. The time of fieldwork, during which I can learn about diverse values through dialogue with the Syrian people, contains rich experiences, and I will keep cherishing it.

――It is the nice expression that "fieldwork is a time to reexamine how I see things." That time has been temporarily lost to the coronavirus outbreak is a big challenge. This is the last question: What kind of plan do you have in mind now?

Mochizuki: I want to consistently publish papers in English. While conducting research in Europe, I felt the need to improve my communication skills on a global scale. Additionally, I aim to contribute to the Syrian community by sharing research in English, a widely understood language worldwide. In the future, I hope to establish an international refugee research platform that connects Japan with the Middle East and Europe.

――I hope that you will develop your research in that direction. Good luck for the future, and thank you very much for taking the time to do this interview today.