2 - Diversity and Change in Reintegration: Case Studies of former Indonesian Technical Intern Trainees returning from Japan

Japan's technical intern training program was initiated in 1993 with the aim of international cooperation by transferring Japan's technology to developing countries. Since its establishment, many problems have been pointed out, which puts forward the program’s reform for consideration. One of the issues is the lack of a sufficient follow-up system after their return.

Therefore, this presentation will examine several cases of the reintegration of former trainees who returned to their hometowns in eastern Indonesia after staying in Japan in the 1990s.

In the countryside, where traditional norms are strong, many of the former trainees started small businesses with their savings earned in Japan. They were initially conceived with stereotypical images such as "successful" and "hardworking like Japanese" by their surroundings. After a decade or so, however, some have fully assimilated into their homeland, while others who once aspired to establish sending agencies have not yet realized such intentions. In the urban area, on the other hand, several sending agencies were established by former trainees. That has become one of the main post-return businesses, and they have continuously produced obedient and hardworking trainees desired by Japanese companies.
With these examples, this presentation will show the diversity and changing aspects of the reintegration of return migrants and consider the background such as human networks and traditional norms of the societies to which they returned.