Accumulation through Human Vulnerabilities: The Role of Migrant Workers in Peasant Differentiation and Japan's 24/7 Food Systems.

This study examines how the in-migration of agrarian workers has reshaped rural society and food systems in Japan, through the lens of "accumulation through human vulnerabilities." Since the 2000s, Japanese agri-food system has increasingly relied on Southeast Asian agrarian workers through programs like the Trainee and Technical Internship. Although these temporary labor programs have been associated with significant human rights violations, they have become central to the agricultural and food industries, particularly in regions focused on horticulture and factory-based food production, such as bento and sandwich manufacturing.

Migrant workers, subjected to demanding work conditions—long hours, irregular shifts, and low wages—have enabled small-scale agribusinesses to engage in what can be understood as "primitive accumulation." The availability of cheap, vulnerable labor has allowed these businesses to maintain operations, including supplying Japan’s 24-hour convenience stores. These dynamics have led to "modern-day peasant differentiation" in Japan’s rural areas. A few large farms have survived and prospered by taking advantage of this labor, while many smaller farms have been forced out of business, contributing to increased stratification within the rural economy.

At the same time, this influx of migrant labor has contributed to significant changes in Japan's foodways. The growing market for ready-prepared meals has externalized the labor of food preparation from households to factories, particularly in urban areas, where convenience is paramount. This shift has deepened the demand for migrant labor in overnight operations in food factories, further embedding a reliance on temporary workers in the food system and transforming consumption patterns.

Based on statistical analysis and over a decade of fieldwork, including interviews and participant observation in horticulture and food production industries, his study reveals how international migration drives agrarian transformation in Japan and its broader implications for global labor and migration regimes.