DRIVERS OF POST-SOVIET MARRIAGE MIGRATION TO JAPAN: AN ANALYSIS OF THE INTERSECTION BETWEEN GENDER, LEGAL STATUS, CULTURAL ASPIRATIONS

Abstract

The motives of marriage migrants are dominated by economic interest in the works studied so far. The image of international marriage migrants is those who travel from developing countries to developed countries in order to improve their economic situation. The purpose of the research work is to analyze the motives of marriage migration directed from the post-Soviet states to Japan and identify the current trend. This research explores the diverse motivations for marriage migration from post-Soviet countries to Japan, arguing that these movements are not limited to simple economic incentives. The empirical data consists of 25 semi-structured interviews with marriage migrants from the post-Soviet space (aged 25–45 years), all of whom are legally married to Japanese nationals and have resided in Japan for at least one year. Additionally, the study incorporates content analysis of open-source social media materials of Russian-speaking migrants in Japan. The research employs an intersectional approach as an analytical framework to examine migratory drivers at the intersection of gender identity, residency and legal status, socio-economic positioning, education and cultural assets. The study’s findings indicate that motivations for marriage-based migration emerge from a combination of strategies: while for some participants, the primary driver is the pragmatic pursuit of legal stability and social security; for others, it is a means of departure from traditional gender norms and expectations in the country of origin. Beyond pragmatic factors, cultural interest in Japan also plays a significant role, frequently serving as the critical precursor to both marriage and residency. In conclusion, the study highlights the necessity of considering marriage migration not as a one-dimensional act, but as a complex social phenomenon integrated into the broader life strategies and international mobility frameworks of individuals. The value of the research work lies in demonstrating the transformation of the motives of marriage migrants. The practical significance of the work is that the collected materials cover an extensive period of the causes and motives of marriage migrants from post-Soviet countries and can be used as a historiographical overview of this research topic.

Keywords: marriage migration, Japan, post-Soviet countries, migrants, gender, migration status, migration motivations.