Parenthood and Belonging Among Nepali Migrants in Japan

This paper sociologically explores the question of belonging among Nepali migrant parents in Japan, an East Asian country that has seen increased migration over the years. In recent years, Japan has emerged as a key destination for Nepali migrants. At present, Nepalis constitute the largest South Asian community and the sixth largest foreign community in Japan, with over 176,000 people. Many young Nepalis get married and transition to parenthood during their stay in Japan, leading to the formation of new families. While some keep their children in Japan, others follow the traditional practice of keeping children back in Nepal. Against this background, this paper asks: How do Nepali parents perceive and negotiate their sense of belonging in Japan? To answer this question, I draw on in-depth interviews with Nepali mothers and fathers residing in the Greater Tokyo Area, conducted over one year between March 2023 and April 2024. I show that Nepali migrants perceive their sense of belonging to have shifted greatly through parenthood, prompting them to engage with Japanese society in new ways that lead to fresh understandings and perspectives. By examining their narratives of belonging, I illuminate the complex process of boundary-making on the part of Nepali migrant parents in Japan. On the one hand, they set boundaries against native Japanese by referencing the latter’s contrasting culture and life course. On the other hand, they also draw boundaries against other Nepali compatriots with different backgrounds in terms of ethnicity, place of origin, work, etc. I demonstrate that this differential boundary-making is integral to the migrants’ construction of belonging, which also helps justify - to themselves and others - how they feel and act as migrant parents in Japan. I conclude by discussing the broader implications of my findings with reference to sociological scholarship on belonging and migrant parenthood.