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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This book is a revised translation of the Japanese edition, Toshi wo Ikiru Hitobito: Bankoku • Toshi Kasoumin no Risuku Taiou min no Risuku Taiou (Living with the Risk: Responses of the Urban Lower-classes in Bangkok), published by Kyoto University Press in February 2011. In publishing this English version, I have modified some content and structure, but my basic argument and the empirical data used in the book have remained the same as the original. This book could never have been completed without the guidance, encouragement, and support from those whom I have encountered during my field survey and writing process. First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to people in the urban communities, factory workers, and all of the others I met in my field study in Bangkok. I owe a huge debt especially to my host family, and the community leaders and residents of my two main research sites. There were many residents who were skeptical about me and my work when I first started my research ten years ago. our relationships have been built gradually over the years. Now, many are not just research “informants” but rather have become family, friends and my trusted local advisors. Despite their difficulties—especially during the rehabilitation process of fire—they always offered and guided me with their kindness, strength, creativity, wisdom, and humour. I cannot mention everyone’s name here, but the time I spent in these communities was the highlight of my years in Bangkok. The original Japanese version was based on my doctoral thesis submitted to Faculty of Economics, Kyoto University in 2007. I would like to thank my supervisor Professor tomohiro okada for his guidance and encouragement. In publishing the Japanese version (which was thoroughly restructured and rewritten from thesis) and also revised for the English edition, I cannot thank my academic advisors Professors Akira Suehiro and Kaoru Sugihara enough for all their comments, insightful criticisms, and encouragements. Professors Kazuhiro Ueta, Kosuke Mizuno, Koichi Fujita, toshio tasaka, and Shinichi Shigetomi have also given me great guidance over the years since my research project began. xiii xiv Acknowledgements My long term field research in Thailand was assisted by Acarn Suwattana Thandaniti, along with Naruemol Bunjogjit, and Narumon Aruotai at the Social Research Institute of Chulalongkorn University. Many researchers and workers with NGos and other institutions have provided inspiration and shared fruitful insights. Especially, I would like to extend my thanks to Rakawin Leechanavanichanpan, Daonoi Srikajon, Donna Doane, tatsuya Hata, and Namrin Dumpen. I am grateful for the academic stimulation from colleagues and friends at the Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS), Kyoto University , Faculty of Economics, Saitama University, and School of oriental and African Studies (SoAS), University of London where I spent my time writing. My time as a SoAS visiting scholar in 2012 was an ideal opportunity to rewrite my manuscript. I would like to thank Professor Naila Kabeer for providing me with such a great research environment and academic stimulation. I also thank the Canon Foundation in Europe for funds to make this visit possible. Advise and encouragement from Waka Aoyama and Jaehyang Han were most helpful in the final round of revisions. I would also like to extend my thanks to fellow researchers, Atsuro Morita, yasuhiro Iwaki, yoshihiro Nakanishi, Sebastien Roux, Chiho Utsunomiya, Motoko Kawano, and yasuhiro Mizutani. I would also like to express my gratitude to Dr. Paul Kratoska of NUS Press for all his support, Professor yoko Hayami and Caroline Hau of CSEAS for their advise, Qua Lena of NUS Press, tetsuya Suzuki and Itaru Saito of Kyoto University Press. I owe a special debt to Danielle McClellan for her tremendous help and comments in editing and finalizing the English manuscript. I thank the staff of Lingua Guild Inc. for working on the translated draft. Errors in this book, however, are my sole responsibility. The 28th Masayoshi ohira Memorial Prize for Japanese edition (2012) and the 6th Iue Asia Pacific Research Prize (commendation, in 2007) for my PhD dissertation gave me great encouragement. I am greatly indebted to the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science for its financial support (a Grant-in-Aid for Publication of Scientific Research Results) in publishing this book and also for research grants. Lastly, I would like to thank my family for their enduring support. Especially I would like to thank my parents for their continuous support and encouragement. I would also like to express my gratitude to my host parents in Bangkok...

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