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

The 13^th Interview

Interview with Dr. Yusy Widarahesty

――Welcome Dr. Yusy. Thank you for kindly allowing us to ask you some questions. First of all, could you tell us what led you to decide on a career as a researcher?

Yusy: Well, since my undergraduate studies, I have always strived to learn what I can do to help others in the future, and when I pursued my master’s degree in Japanese area studies at the University of Indonesia, my determination to become a researcher got stronger. As a result, following graduation, I began my academic career by teaching at various private universities in Indonesia. That’s where I realized how much I wanted to establish myself and my abilities as a scholar, and I was determined to become a researcher.

―― In your research, you focus on the migrant policy both in Southeast Asian countries and Japan. Could you tell us about the reasons why you chose this research subject?

Yusy: As commonly known, Asia has a long history of migration, and Japan is one of popular destinations, particularly among Southeast Asian countries, due to the influence of Japanese popular culture and soft power, which have succeeded in winning the hearts of people in the region. As a result, we can see that Southeast Asian countries are today one of the primary contributors to sending workers in the blue-collar sector. This has continued for more than 30 years since the collaboration started by the Technical Intern Training Program in 1993. When observing the long history of international cooperation in the field of employment, it is critical to not only to see the real conditions by thoroughly examining the policy, implementation, and unique character of each sending country in perpetuating this migration regime, but also how each individual actor navigates this migration in the context of both sending and receiving countries by reinforcing the significance of an ethnographic viewpoint for examining migration in Japan, such as deciphering Japan’s perspective, which tends to maintain the myth of being a “homogeneous” or “non-migration” country.

――That is very interesting, and I can see the pressing significance of your research concern. You have been at Ritsumeikan University since your Ph.D. What motivated you to pursue your studies in Japan? What led you to choose these fields of research?

Yusy: Since my college days, I have always questioned how social inequality in society occurs and is perpetuated. I myself was born and raised in a working-class family. Without realizing it, I became accustomed to hearing about inequality and injustice in my surroundings, especially when I saw the working conditions in Indonesia in a clear way, with high unemployment rates, frequent layoffs, and many other social problems which, of course, is one of the driving forces for people to seek a better life abroad by migrating.

During my academic career in Indonesia, I began as a researcher in Japanese studies, with no intention of devoting my studies to migration studies. However, my travels for conferences and presentations brought me into contact with groups of Indonesian migrant workers in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore. Through talking to them I learned about the various issues that Indonesian migrant workers confront.

―― I see, your initial concern about Indonesian migrant workers in the Asian region was the reason you started migration studies. So then how did you shift your focus to their situation in Japan?

Yusy: As a Japanese studies researcher at the time, I felt the need to understand the conditions of Indonesian migrant workers in Japan, which at the time didn’t receive much attention because the media focused more on the issues of Indonesian migrant workers in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia. In addition, Japanese studies at that time were still dominated by studies of Japanese language, culture, and popular culture, so I decided to question the working circumstances of my fellow Indonesians in Japan

I discovered an initial answer from my own students, who decided to continue working in Japan as interns or TITP after graduating with a degree in Japanese literature. Some of my students even dropped out to participate in this program. Finally, my curiosity was aroused and I secured a research grant from the Sumitomo Foundation to investigate the real-life realities of Indonesian migrant workers pursuing their dreams in Japan. After completing fieldwork in Japan and witnessing their daily lives as interns, I identified a complex problem and decided to continue my studies in Japan to undertake a more in-depth study.

―― It’s easy to see that your research concern is closely connected with your own experiences. Could you share with us the problems that you found Indonesian interns facing in Japan at that time?

Yusy: Based on extensive ethnographic and longitudinal research involving various participants in the Technical Intern Training Program from Indonesia, it has become clear that the challenges they face are deeply complex—much like an iceberg, where only a fraction of the problems are visible on the surface.

Take, for instance, the pre-departure phase, which is riddled with issues. Many participants find themselves ensnared in debt traps due to exorbitant pre-departure fees. Additionally, many of their valuable documents—like diplomas and land certificates—are often withheld, leaving them vulnerable. They are coerced into signing agreements that restrict their personal choices, such as prohibitions on pregnancy, quitting their jobs, or running away. Meanwhile, the preparatory training emphasizes a militaristic physical regimen, alongside Japanese language and culture lessons, all while instilling discipline and obedience. Unfortunately, this training fails to equip participants with fundamental knowledge about their labor rights and legal protections. As a result, they often remain unaware of what constitutes their rights as workers and what actions violate those rights.

Once they arrive in the destination country, this cycle of silence and exploitation continues. Many participants endure physical and verbal abuse, face discrimination from biased seniors, and contend with intermediaries or Kumiai staff who prioritize corporate interests above all else, where the workers in these intermediaries are also just as vulnerable and powerless, because they have been hired by the company and unofficially have to work “24 hours’’ a day to accept calls from participants who want to complain about their working conditions. This creates a troubling cycle where vulnerabilities feed into one another, reinforcing a systemic issue that is both intricate and pervasive.

―― Thank you for explaining. It sounds as if your research has uncovered some pretty serious problems. Now let me ask another question about your research life. How was your life studying abroad when you first came to Japan?

Yusy: As a migration researcher who migrated and brought my family and children with me, I have undoubtedly learned many valuable lessons. This migration study has served as a mirror reflecting on my life and has certainly influenced my approach to this study. I had ups and downs during the first six months of my long-distance relationship, and then after my family arrived, for the first year, I had to adapt, particularly after witnessing my children’s efforts to integrate into a Japanese school with no Japanese language abilities when they first arrived. With a good educational system and support, my children have effectively integrated, not only knowing Japanese culture but also speaking Japanese well. I greatly appreciate the teachers at the school who are concerned about the presence of foreigners and do everything they can to help with the integration process, despite the fact that this is still not fairly distributed among Japanese schools.

—— You must have experienced a lot of things while living in Japan with your family. Now that you mentioned the educational effort to help foreigners adapt themselves to Japanese society, what is it like for those who are in same kind of situation as you? Do you think the Japanese immigration policy has been an effective system for them?

Yusy: The responses to this question can vary. In some urban schools with a significant number of foreign residents, the schools are often better equipped to support the integration of foreign students. They provide lessons in Japanese language and culture, and they make accommodations based on the students' cultural and religious needs. For instance, in my case as a Muslim, my school offers a prayer room and allows students to bring their own lunch boxes, among other accommodations. However, in schools located far from urban areas or in regions with fewer foreign students, the same level of integration may not be the same. These schools often face challenges related to effectively supporting foreign students in their educational journey. This could be due to a lack of resources or knowledge about how to treat foreign students. However, overall, what needs to be addressed is its implementation and how to further open up two-way integration or learning, allowing foreigners to fully learn about Japan and vice versa, thus fostering mutual understanding. Because beyond integration, the most important thing is acceptance. Acceptance by using two-way learning will bring a sense of mutual understanding.

—— How do you often use Japanese in your daily life?

Yusy: Even though my Japanese is not too advanced, I use it frequently in my daily life, such as when I go to convenience stores, hospitals, teacher and student meetings at my children’s schools, and when I volunteer to translate for Indonesian friends at schools or hospitals, etc.

Aside from that, when I was a student, I also had some part-time work experiences that required me to use Japanese, such as when I working in a restaurant, teaching Indonesian language part-time to Japanese people organized by the Indonesian and Japanese Friendship Association in Kyoto (APJI) and also for Japanese expatriates who will be assigned to Indonesia, being a tour guide for Japanese junior and senior high school students in Kyoto, and in terms of research activities I used Japanese when I interviewed Japanese stakeholders such as Japanese companies and Japanese consultants.

—— It seems that you have had a lot of experience using practical and advanced Japanese. How has your time as a researcher in AJI been? What have you gained from research activities in AJI?

Yusy: I have felt full and extraordinary support during my time at AJI. I also found colleagues and seniors who were very helpful and supportive. AJI helped me a lot in developing my research activities, such as providing funding for journal writing, conferences, fieldwork, and other assistance. I was very fortunate to be in a supportive and healthy environment that encouraged me to develop.

——Thank you. And you organized the AJI International Workshop, “Toward Enhanced ASEAN-Japan Mobility Cooperation: The Issues Surrounding Japan-Southeast Asia’s Mobility” last September. I also attended, and I could learn a lot of things about the actual and institutional situations of migrant workers in Japan. How do you think of the experience organizing the workshop?

Yusy: Organizing an international workshop provided me with invaluable experience. I learned to network with experts in the field of migration, particularly in Japanese migration studies. I developed essential skills for seminar organization, mastering effective communication, schedule management, financial planning, and the art of wrapping up an event by integrating outcomes into a published book.

Moreover, I gained profound insights into migration issues in Japan from diverse perspectives, particularly the dynamic relationship with Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. In addition, I learned the importance of solid teamwork from my colleagues at AJI, where both seniors and peers provided supportive and helpful assistance to ensure that the seminar ran smoothly. I am sincerely grateful and appreciate that.

——I would like to ask about your recent research interests. What are you primarily interested in at the moment, and what do you most enjoy about your recent research?

Yusy: I’m currently working on several research projects related to migration, such as the reproductive rights of migrant workers in Japan, social media and migration, and immigrant integration in Japan. I’ve really enjoyed my journey as a migration researcher and ethnographer. I feel that dedicating and immersing myself as an ethnographer has helped me gain a deeper understanding of migration issues, especially in Japan.

――It sounds great, and you have actively been enlarging the scope of your research. What are your current plans and goals for the future? Please tell me about your future plans for your academic career.

Yusy: During my PhD, as I navigated the complexities of the migration issues in the world today, I decided to form a non-profit organization called RUMI here in Japan (It means a home for Indonesian migrants in Japan). It is an NPO dedicated to empowering Indonesian migrants in Japan, and working with other Indonesian migration scholars, this platform has enabled me to contribute more broadly as an agent of change. After creating this, my connection with NGOs and NPOs focusing on protecting migrant workers in Japan was built. This platform has allowed me to make direct changes, such as advocating, educating workers about employment law, labor rights, and other important things. Therefore, I endeavor to utilize my academic knowledge through research while also actively trying to promote good changes for vulnerable migrant groups in the field. I want to contribute as a bridge to global research and public discussions on ASEAN-Japan migration studies.

――I admire what you have done, and it will definitely be able to make a bridge between Indonesia, ASEAN, and Japan. I have enjoyed listening to your exciting episodes and concerns today. Thank you very much.