Abstract
This paper discusses the way in which transnationalism is practised within families across generations of children, parents and grandparents located in different countries with the focus on Japanese migrant women in Australia. Theories of transnationalism are generally understood as migrants' ongoing relationship and connections with homeland. These theories suggest that contemporary migrants actively engage in taking actions, making decisions and feeling the need for connection across distance. This implies a multiplicity of social relationships generated by individuals who are positioned neither in their homeland nor in the host society. These general traits of migrants are also identified among Japanese migrant women. This paper presents the main finding of nine interviews with migrant Japanese women and found that transnationalism highlights the nature of connections across generations, that is to say, 'intergenerational transnationalism'. Children's bilingual education, which is a great concern among Japanese mothers, plays a role in linking grandchildren in Australia and grandparents in Japan. Bilingualism, thus, does not simply involve bicultural language ability as such but is also something that contributes to and extends transnational connections. Furthermore, intergenerational transnationalism relates to the roles of Japanese women as mothers and daughters. In such a context, Japanese women act as a bridge between their children and their parents to form new transnational connections across the generations.