Whether to remain in Japan or not: Inner conflict of foreigners after the occurrence of the great east Japan earthquake

When the Great East Japan Earthquake happened, many foreigners living in the stricken area experienced a sort of inner conflict between returning to their home country and remaining in Japan. Fear for another earthquake and Tsunami, anxiety about the influence of the nuclear accident upon themselves and their family members, especially their children, and loss of their means of living were the main causes for their returning home. On the other hand, the following were the main reasons for their decisions to remain in Japan: a sense of “responsibility” for their community, the “necessity” for taking care of their parents-in-law (especially in case of international brides), a strong insistence on remaining by Japanese family members and also a lack of money or information for returning home. In whichever case, however, they must have been put in a complicated situation between deciding whether to stay in Japan or to return home, within themselves as well as within their family. In this report, based on the interviews and questionnaire surveys with foreigners living in the coastal area of Miyagi Prefecture, I will (1) describe the reality of their inner conflict between deciding whether to stay in Japan or not, (2) examine the correlation between their decisions and their social variables. Moreover, I will (3) clarify ethical viewpoints or social standpoints underlying the assumption that remaining in Japan is a responsible act, while returning home is an excursion of their right to freedom. I will also (4) examine the process of their decision-making (conversation among family members or friends) from the viewpoints of “communicative rationality.” Finally, I will (5) suggest necessary measures for foreigners to take in order to make a better decision concerning a return home in case of emergency, depending on each particular situation.