COMPLETION REPORT

Philanthropy and Japanese retirees in Bali
Dr. Yeoh Seng Guan
Senior Lecturer
School of Arts & Social Sciences, Monash University, Malaysia
This project proposed to look at the philanthropic activities of Japanese retirees residing in Bali. A number ofthese activities exist and are based in major centers of the island – places like Denpasar, Singaraja, Sanur, andUbud. They range from healthcare (eg., setting up of midwife clinics), education (eg., setting up Japanese language
schools and children libraries), developmental assistance (eg., donation of water-tanks to village neighborhoods[banjars]), and raising awareness of the environment. In particular, Japanese retirees have provided leadership insetting up groups providing environmental education and organizing joint activities in the replanting of mangrove
and upland forests in places like Sanur and Kintamani.
Perhaps the most well-known of these is “Clean Up Bali” (CUB). CUB was founded by members of the JapanClub in 2008, and now mainly led by Japanese retirees. This group concentrates on educating high school children
on environmental issues through the Japanese-inspired card game (“Bali Eco Kartu”), organizing clean-up
activities in local village neighborhoods (banjars), and the replanting of mangrove forests. Some of their activities
are partially subsidized by corporations and businesses based in Japan in the form of funds to purchase things likeseedlings and other materials.
Why have my Japanese retiree informants chosen to initiate these activities? The key reason is that they havemore free time in comparison to other Japanese long-stay residents who have businesses to run and families toraise in Bali. Secondly, they said they feel an obligation to “give back” to Bali, a place which has provided themwith a good quality of life in their old age. “Giving back” for them means helping to address some of thedevelopmental needs of Balinese and helping to maintain various aspects of Bali that have attracted them in thefirst place.
My Japanese retiree informants have chosen to focus on environmental issues because they are concerned bymass tourism and rapid development making Bali less attractive and liveable. In particular, there has been an
escalation of the waste problem as well as the destruction of upland forests contributing to the depletion of water
resources in Bali.
For my Japanese retiree informants, by organizing these activities and getting Balinese communities involved inthem, they have benefited by developing a closer understanding of Balinese culture and society beyond the tourist
veneer. They have also developed lasting working relationships and, in some cases, friendships with various
Balinese individuals beyond the Japanese community. Their residence in Bali has become more meaningful
through these social relationships.
For my Balinese informants who have been the recipients of these activities, they appreciate the willingness of theJapanese community in Bali to want to help address problems. The material aid that they receive are not always
readily forthcoming from the local government because of the lack of resources and different priorities.
Additionally, many of them say that they have individually picked up valuable knowledge, skills and working
habits through these collaborative encounters with the Japanese retirees. In turn, they have used to theseexperiences to better themselves and to help improve their own families, places of work, and local neighborhoods.

Publication of the Results of Research Project:
Verbal Presentation (Date, Venue, Name of Conference, Title of Presentation, Presenter, etc.)
I am planning for the preliminary results of this project to be presented at ICAS 10 (International Convention ofAsian Studies) International Conference to be held in Chiang Mai in July 2017 (http://icas.asia/icas-10-chiangmai-2017). I will convene a panel that will look at similar kinds of philanthropic activities run by lifestylemigrants in different parts of Asia.
Thesis (Name of Journal and its Date, Title and Author of Thesis, etc.)
Not applicable at the moment
Book (Publisher and Date of the Book, Title and Author of the Book, etc.)
Not applicable at the moment