京都大学大学院アジア・アフリカ地域研究研究科 COSER Center for On-Site Education and Research 附属次世代型アジア・アフリカ教育研究センター
京都大学大学院アジア・アフリカ地域研究研究科
フィールドワーク・レポート

Thai migrants and their Buddhist network

One of the Kathina trees with both Thai and Japanese counterfeits

Abstract

 Thai Theravada temples in Japan carry a cultural significance among Thai migrants. Despite the previous literature, Thai temples abroad can function more than as support mechanisms for vulnerable migrants. The reasons for visiting Thai temples among key informants are varied. The previous narrative may be suitable for those who have language limitations. However, for those who have language proficiency, Thai temples offer either a Thai environment or Thai practices. The Buddhist network among Thai migrants in Japan has various functions.

Research background and purpose

 According to Japanese governmental statistics in 2021, 36% of religious organizations are Buddhist temples, and only 3% constitute “others,” among which are included religious congregations connected to overseas religious organizations, and this includes the Thai and other Southeast Asian Buddhist temples in Japan where migrants congregate (e-Stat, 2021). Even though they are under the same umbrella of Buddhism, they Japanese and Thai Buddhist temples are officially differentiated. This highlights the differences between two sects. Although number of Thai temples is not statistically significant, these temples are well recognized among the Thai community and are not widely known by local Japanese. This may lead us to discuss its cultural significance. When there are many Japanese Buddhist temples around, it is interesting to further study why Thai migrants visit other (mostly Thai or also Lao) Buddhist temples. One possible reason is the difference between the Mahayana and Theravada schools. However, as society has its layers of complexity, it is likely to have more than one solid reason. Therefore, I am interested in pursuing the topic of Thai migrants and their Buddhist network.
 The primary purpose of the trips is to conduct a field survey to assess research sites. Studying migrant communities at Thai temples in Japan can provide a sound understanding of how migrants use Buddhist networks to create support mechanisms and can help the researcher conduct the original research aim, that is to understand the role of Buddhist networks among Myanmar migrants in the Thai interior. Some temples receive official support from the Thai Embassy in Japan, which may allow them to recruit a huge number of Thai supporters.

A decoration at a Thai temple for New Year’s overnight pray and meditation

Results/Achievements

 During around two months of my fieldwork, I visited four Thai Theravada temples and one Lao temple in the Kanagawa and Tokyo areas during the events of the Kathina ceremony, the Late King Bhumipol’s birthday, and New Year’s overnight pray and meditation. As a result, I can identify research field locations and establish relationships with 13 key informants: 10 females and 3 males, whose ages range from 20s to 70s. They have various reasons for living in Japan, ranging from marriage, work, and retirement. A Buddhist network is a social capital for some Thai migrants. I divide my key informants into two categories by language proficiency: first, those who do not know/know only basic Japanese; and second, those who are capable of Japanese but prefer to stay in a Thai cultural environment, either over a short period of time or in the long term. The first group tends to socially rely on the Thai Buddhist community. While the second group may have other groups of friends outside of the temple, they prefer to observe Thai Buddhist practices. The story of Jinju and Swang (pseudonym) can represent people in the second group.
 Jinju came to Japan with his mother when he was in elementary school and continued his studies in Japan. Therefore, he holds Japanese nationality and can speak fluent Japanese. Jinju is working at a famous Japanese electronics company. Despite being raised in Japan, Jinju seems to have enjoyed Thai culture. He volunteers as a member of the temple committee and hangs out with a group of laypersons. When I first met him, Jinju was carrying his portable speaker, listening to a Dhamma channel. At first, I thought it was because we were at the temple, so he was listening to something Thai. But he also has lists of Thai songs in his car, which is a personal space as well.
 Swang is married to a Japanese husband and has been in Japan for more than 5 years. She can speak fluent Japanese and is working as an officer in a governmental organization. Swang usually visits Japanese temples but will visit a Thai temple on special occasions to offer food to monks. She explains that it is because she cannot practice offering (Sangathan in Thai) at a Japanese temple. Part of our conversation, Swang told me, “We are Thai, so we have to make merit at a Thai temple”.

Plans for further research

 Further investigation into related issues 1) what can a Thai temple offer laypersons, particularly in times of crisis? 2) the monk-lay relationship as well as the lay-lay relationship3) as there is more than one Thai temple in the area, what is the identity of “Thai Buddhists” and what is the politics between Thai temples?

Reference

e-Stat. 全国社寺教会等宗教団体・教師・信者数.  <https://www.e-stat.go.jp/stat-search/files?page=1&layout=datalist&toukei=00401101&tstat=000 001018471&cycle=0&tclass1=000001160766&tclass2val=0.>(December 10, 2021)

  • レポート:Pakwan Pinitkitjawat(Enrollment year 2021)
  • 派遣先国:(Japan)Tokyo and Kanagawa
  • 渡航期間:November 6th, 2021 to January 6th, 2022
  • キーワード:Thai Buddhists, Buddhist network, migrants

関連するフィールドワーク・レポート

ダークツーリズムと住民および労働者の歴史認識 /セネガル・ゴレ島の事例

対象とする問題の概要  セネガルのゴレ島は、奴隷貿易の拠点として利用された歴史を有し[Maillat  2018]、現在では奴隷収容所が多くの観光客を集めている。1978年に世界遺産に登録された同島は、ダークツーリズム的観光地である一方で、…

エチオピアにおける音楽実践と生活世界にかんする地域研究

対象とする問題の概要  エチオピア西南部の高地に暮らすアリの人びとは、地域内で自生・栽培されているタケをもちいて気鳴楽器を製作し、共同労働や冠婚葬祭においてそれらを演奏している。近代学校教育やプロテスタントの浸透によって、慣習的な共同労働や…

スリランカにおける清掃労働者コミュニティの研究

対象とする問題の概要  スリランカの清掃労働者は地方自治体に雇用され、道路清掃やゴミ回収・処理を行っており、その集住集落には周辺住民や自治体職員から差別的なまなざしが向けられている。また廃棄物管理行政の中では主要なアクターとして捉えられてお…

新潟県十日町市の里山保全活動と狩猟実践

研究全体の概要  アフリカ、カメルーン東南部では熱帯雨林で狩猟採集を主な生業として暮らす人々が住んでいる。彼らにとって狩猟という行為は生業・文化・社会に広く影響を与えている要素として認識できる。近年は定住・農耕化や貨幣経済のインパクトを受け…

ルサカ市周縁の未計画居住区における生活環境の糞便汚染実態の調査

対象とする問題の概要  下痢は世界における死因の中で最も重大なものの1つである。特にアフリカでは下痢は重大な問題で、2019年に世界で150万人の人が下痢が原因で亡くなっているが、その約3分の1となる49万6千人がアフリカで亡くなったと報告…

ミャンマーの少数民族カレンによる民族言語教育/バプティスト派キリスト教会に注目して

対象とする問題の概要  公定で135民族が居住するとされるミャンマーは、それゆえに民族共存にかかわる課題を擁しており、民族言語もその一つと言える。大きく7つに分類される国内の少数民族の1つであるカレンは、民族語カレン語の話者減少という問題を…