Commonplace and out-of-place diversities in London and Tokyo: migrant-run eateries as intercultural third places

Abstract In global cities such as London and Tokyo, there are neighbourhoods where ethnic, religious, cultural other forms of diversity associated with migration commonplace others migrants regarded unusual or even out-of-place. both types contexts, migrant-run eateries spaces in which people various backgrounds interact. some may serve ‘third places’ regular intercultural conviviality occur, yet others, interactions civil but fleeting. This comparative paper is based on findings from two ethnographic neighbourhood studies West Tokyo East London. The Nishi-Ogikubo one emerging diversity, migrant entrepreneurship rather new uncommon, whereas has seen immigration for decades businesses so common to be taken-for-granted. the Japanese norms ‘drinking communication’ small eating drinking spots inevitably involve proprietors their customers more deeply social interactions. London, contrast, much public semi-public spaces, case eateries, they characterized by somewhat superficial encounters. contributes scholarship role third places relations, highlighting importance established interaction specific places. By comparing vastly different contexts regarding extent immigration-related it demonstrates how encounters between residents embedded these places, entrepreneurs each context adapt norms.