Introduction

This book begins by situating Japan within global migration debates, challenging the widespread perception of the country as an isolated or exceptional case. Although immigration remains relatively recent and limited in scale, demographic decline and labour shortages are steadily pushing Japan towards becoming a society of settlement. The rising presence of immigrant families and second-generation youth illustrates this transformation, with education emerging as a key arena where opportunities for integration intersect with persistent inequalities. Drawing on 62 interviews with young people of Chinese, Korean, and Brazilian backgrounds, the study provides first-hand insights into their experiences of schooling, identity, and social mobility. Beyond documenting these realities, the book seeks to connect them to broader theoretical frameworks, thereby expanding migration studies beyond its traditional Euro-American focus. Japan’s case is presented not as an anomaly, but as a valuable site for comparison that can enrich and diversify global understandings of immigrant integration.