【New Event】
Asian Talk 176
Chinese Immigration and Its Discontents
an interview with Takehiro Masumoto
“Rùn（潤/润）” is a term that has recently become popular in China. It refers to people who, for various reasons, choose to leave China in search of a better life. Originally, the word meant “to profit,” but since its pinyin spelling is “rùn,” it has taken on a double meaning with the English word “run,” implying escape.
The “Run Japan” community — still largely unnoticed by many Japanese — is rapidly gaining influence in response to changes in China, Japan, and the broader world.
As we engage with and listen closely to this entirely new group of Chinese immigrants, we can strongly sense their uniqueness and complexity. At the same time, it becomes evident that they are already having a significant and undeniable impact on Japan’s politics, economy, and society.
We welcomes journalist and author Yudai Masutomo, will share the latest findings from his reporting on the trends and future outlook of China’s new wave of immigrants.
Link:https://str.toyokeizai.net/books/9784492224243/
Takehiro Masutomo/ Guest
Takehiro Masutomo is a quadrilingual journalist and adjunct researcher at Waseda University. He is the author of the newly published book, Run Ri: Tracing the Footsteps of Chinese Elites Escaping to Japan.
Takehiro born in Fukuoka Prefecture in 1985, holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). After joining Caixin Media in 2010, he covered international news, with a primary focus on Japan. From 2014 to 2016, he served as a research associate at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore (NUS). Since 2022, he has provided commentary on Asian affairs for NHK Radio’s news program My Asa! In 2023, he launched the podcast Asia Frontline.
His articles have been published in Weekly Toyo Keizai, Nishinippon Shimbun, NewsPicks, Nikkei Asia, The Japan Times, South China Morning Post, The Straits Times, The Jakarta Post, Kompas, Tempo, and many others.
Chang Che/ Interviewer
Chang Che is a writer and contributor to the New York Times and The New Yorker covering Chinese politics and society.
