How to Maintain a Rural Settlement through Screening and Accepting I-Turn Migrants in Amami-oshima Island, Japan: Counterevidence to the “Marginal Settlement Discourse” by Examining the Case of Katetsu, Setouchi-cho

A rural settlement on Amami-Oshima Island, Japan, defies the 'marginal settlement discourse' by successfully maintaining its community through selective integration of I-turn migrants—individuals who return to rural areas after living in urban centers. The study reveals that Katetsu village, Setouchi-cho, achieves this by screening migrants based on their alignment with local values and participation in communal activities. Unlike other rural areas facing decline, Katetsu's closed housing market and consensus-driven events act as gatekeepers, ensuring newcomers adapt to non-urban lifestyles while reinforcing the village's social fabric. This case challenges the notion that such settlements are inherently unsustainable.

Koki, T. (2018). 奄美大島におけるIターン者の選別・受入を通じた集落の維持―瀬戸内町嘉鉄にみる「限界集落論」の反証―. E-Journal GEO, 13(1), 50–67. https://doi.org/10.4157/ejgeo.13.50