Migration SociologyGlobal and Local Logics: Japan’s Matchmaking Industry and Marriage AgenciesTomoko Nakamatsu

Instructor: Prof HZ Wang

Student: Jeanette KY Yuen

問題意識 Is international matchmaking in Japan inherently links to

human trafficking?

1. Marriage industry is a social custom in Japan

2. International matchmaking companies are a result of global restructuring

3. Marriage industry has been wrongly perceived due to the standard/ quality of

the industry

No, it is over generalized

結論• “The business is surrounded by controversy, but that alone

should not lead to the conclusion that international matchmaking is inherently linked to sham marriages and to human trafficking. Such overgeneralization tends to see mediated marriage as deviant, female clients as victims, and trivializes their marriage and migration experiences” (p.207)

• There is a demand and need for global matchmaking services

• It is necessary to improve the standard of the industry. Regulations on the conduct of matchmaking agencies are needed

• Comparison with immigration report 2004: “smooth services and stricter actions”

推論邏輯Past studies

Study about trafficking -illegitimate type of migration business (Salt & Stein, 1997)

Filipino or Korean women working in a bar or married to Japanese men as comfort woman (McCormack, 1996, Moeran, 2000)

Brides being forced to work in a bar or even in the sex industry (Yamasaki, 1988)Commodification and trafficking of women (Wang & Chang, 2002)

1. It is necessary to understand the matchmaking

business in Japan from a historical

point of view

overgeneralization

2. It is necessary to understand the

matchmaking business in Japan from a historical

point of view

3. It is the standard of the marriage

industry that makes people have a

wrong perception on such an industry involving trafficking

推論邏輯 (cont’d)

1. It is necessary to understand the matchmaking business in Japan from a historical point of view

Late 19th century: go-betweens got more popular due to modernization and westernization

1930s: private marriage agency in urban area as new generations moved to cities as wage earners

1940s: colonial goalPost World War: public marriage bureaus in urban areas (for widows or

former soldiers)1960s: regarded as outdated but still need

1970s: associations of marriage agents 1980s: large scale computerized marriage information service as well as

state fund for the support of depopulated regions2000: central government’s effort to boost birth rate- finding a marriage

partner

推論邏輯 (cont’d)

2. International matchmaking companies in Japan are result of global restructuring

Global restructuring of tourism and entertainment industryOverseas linkage of manufacturing industry

State policy on immigration (which affect other industries in Japan)

推論邏輯 (cont’d)

3. It is the standard of the marriage industry that makes people have a wrong perception on such an industry

involving trafficking There are controversies on legitimacy issues about matchmaking

businessCharging system

Private ties sexist, racist and class-cased discriminatory views“ If we continue to see the marriage business as deviant, or their clients as victims of trafficking because they are commodities in the marriage

business, we will lose sight of what international marriages mean to the women and men involved” (p. 206)

這篇文章的推理邏輯是否讓你信服• The standpoint is what I agree to but the logic or how these

arguments are built is controversial

Social customs in Japan≠ trafficking?

low quality of marriage industry ≠ trafficking?

Illegitimate ≠ trafficking?

what exactly trafficking is?Human trafficking is the practice of people being tricked, lured, coerced or otherwise removed from their home or country, and then forced to work with no or low payment or on terms which are highly exploitative. The practice is considered to be the trade or commerce of people, which has many features of slavery, and which is illegal in most countries. The victims of human trafficking are used in a variety of situations, including prostitution, forced labor and other forms of involuntary servitude.

這篇文章的推理邏輯是否讓你信服 (cont’d)

• The organization of the paper

Global restructuring= development of the international matchmaking industry

introduction to marriage industry of Japan

文章的哪些部分是多餘的贅肉，根本與主題 / 問題意識無關？

• The suggestion on p. 206

• Banning of international matchmaking business (p.202)

假如從另外一個不同的角度來看相同的問題，你可能會從何下手？

• Define trafficking and compare the practice of matchmaking companies with trafficking

• From a different point of view Case study and interviews with clients (the women from China, Philippines or Korea)

• The commodification of marriage industry