Sino-Burmese Secondary Migration and Identity: Tracing Family Histories

Abstract

This paper investigates Burmese migrants of Chinese descent, particularly those living in Japan. Many migrants’ fathers or grandfathers originally migrated to Burma/Myanmar due to political turbulence back in China. Studies on overseas Chinese often focus on migration to countries such as Japan, the US, Indonesia, or Burma/Myanmar. Little research has thus far considered families who later embark on a secondary migration to Japan. I traced the family histories of two Sino-Burmese leaders of the Burmese community in Japan. Based on interviews and fieldwork in Japan and Burma/Myanmar between 2016 and 2018, I explored what it means to be a Chinese minority living in Burma/Myanmar. Such people faced a glass ceiling due to ethnic discrimination linked to political instability. Roots in China, nativity in Burma/Myanmar, and migration to Japan and the US tend to create multiple identities. After migrating to Japan, they claimed Burmese identity and used their Japan connections and identity to organize Burmese pro-democracy actions. One ran a sushi restaurant after further migration to the US.