BOOK REVIEW: The Construction of Diaspora: South Asians Living in Japan.

This article is a scholarly review of the book "The Construction of Diaspora: South Asians Living in Japan." The reviewer provides an overview of the book's main contribution, which is an ethnographic and sociological study of the formation of a South Asian diasporic community in Japan. The review highlights the key themes explored in the book, such as the migration experiences of South Asians, their patterns of economic and social integration, and the processes through which they construct and maintain a sense of community and cultural identity in a largely homogenous society. The reviewer assesses the strengths of the book's research methodology and its analytical insights into the complex dynamics of diaspora formation. The review concludes by affirming the book's importance as a significant contribution to the fields of migration studies, diaspora studies, and the study of contemporary Japanese society.

This article offers a critical review of the important sociological work, "The Construction of Diaspora: South Asians Living in Japan." The review begins by positioning the book as a valuable and timely study of a "new" immigrant community in a country that is grappling with the challenges of international migration. It summarizes the author's central thesis: that diaspora is not a static given, but is an ongoing process of social "construction," actively built and maintained by migrants themselves through their social, cultural, and religious practices. The reviewer would discuss the key ethnographic insights of the book, praising its "thick description" of the everyday lives of South Asian migrants. This would likely include an analysis of the book's chapters on the role of ethnic entrepreneurship in creating economic niches, the importance of religious institutions like mosques and temples as community hubs, and the ways in which cultural traditions are adapted and transmitted to the next generation. The review would offer a balanced critique, evaluating the strength of the book's theoretical framework and its success in linking its micro-level ethnographic findings to broader macro-level theories of migration and diaspora. The review would conclude that the book is an indispensable resource for anyone interested in the lived experience of migrants in Japan and the complex processes through which diasporic identities are forged and sustained in a new land.