open access

https://doi.org/10.14943/jbr.12.77

https://hdl.handle.net/2115/85036

Collaboration between Japan’s Borderlands Studies and Practices: Looking back on 10 years of JIBSN

英語

2022-03-31

Eurasia Unit for Border Reaseach (Japan)

JAPAN BORDER REVIEW

12

77-89

This article focuses on the Japan International Border Studies Network (JIBSN), which entered the 11th year on its existence on November 27, 2021. Article 2 of the JIBSN byelaws states, "The focus of this organisation’s research is on border affairs between Japan and other countries along with adjacent regions (hereinafter “the borders”). The goal is to advance our current understanding in this field of study via conducting relevant border research, exchanging expertise and appropriately dealing with various challenges faced in these regions. The organisation also promotes new social contributions through networking and interdisciplinary research and practices. " JIBSN has been engaged in various activities for 10 years. Of note is the conceptualization of "border tourism" and industry-academia-government collaboration with this idea as a key concept. On the other hand, JIBSN has been working on more than just ‘border tourism’ themes. What are the factors that have created and developed “border tourism” by JIBSN for 10 years? This article looks back on JIBSN's 10 years and clarifies what was realized and challenged through collaboration between researchers and practitioners. Specifically, it explains the history of JIBSN by dividing it into the pre-establishment period (2007-2011), the post-establishment period (2012-2013) and the “border tourism” promotion period (2014-2021), referring to measures taken by Japan’s government regarding border areas during the same period. It also explains why JIBSN has continued for more than 10 years, even though it lacks its own financial resources. As a result, this article clarifies JIBSN has entered a period of border tourism promotion through the collaboration of researchers and practitioners. In other words, it can be said that it is a collaboration between those that created the concept of border tourism and those that spread it as travel commodities. And in the post-corona era, its reconstruction has become an urgent issue. Also, it can be said that JIBSN has indirectly contributed to the realization of the Act on Special Measures concerning Conservation of Inhabited Remote Border Islands and Maintaining Local Communities on Specific Inhabited Remote Border Islands (the Act on Inhabited Remote Border Islands), the Comprehensive Agreement for the Embarkation of Domestic Passengers on Specified International Maritime Routes, and the Act on the Review and Regulation of the Use of Real Estate Surrounding Important Facilities and on Remote Territorial Islands. This is because JIBSN took them up at its seminars and published as reports on the web, although it was not directly affiliated with national institutions. On the other hand, the expansion of the exchange population in the borderlands of Japan continues to be an issue, so it will be an issue how JIBSN will be involved in these acts in the future. Therefore, increasing the number of JIBSN members will also be an issue. As mentioned above, this article looks back on the achievements and challenges of JIBSN over the past 10 years. However, it cannot be denied that new issues for JIBSN may arise depending on the possibility of cooperation with local governments that have World Heritage Sites and the change in the position of border islands in the new National Security Strategy (NSS) of Japan that is expected to be revised at the end of 2022. Therefore, we should continue to assert the relevance of JIBSN.

紀要論文

Version of Record

2185-6117

AA12497681