Japanese immigration to Brazil began in 1908 with the arrival of the Kasato Maru and more than 700 Japanese immigrants in São Paulo. More than a century later, their descendants, cultural traditions, businesses and contributions to agriculture, sports and Brazilian society remain an important part of Brazil’s multicultural identity.
Brazil became home to the largest Japanese community outside Japan, with almost two million Japanese descendants according to the article’s 2020 data.
In 1908, the Kasato Maru ship arrived in Brazil with the first generation of those who would become Japanese immigrants. More than 700 Japanese people arrived at that time to work, essentially, in the coffee plantations of the state of São Paulo.
Between the conflicts of the First and Second World Wars, little by little, new immigrants left Japan and settled in Brazil, strengthening the exchange between these two countries.
From that first wave of Japanese immigrants, from 1908 to 2020, 112 years have passed. Today, the Japanese-descendant population in Brazil has reached almost two million people, making it the largest Japanese community outside Japan.
In São Paulo, it is speculated that there are more than 1.3 million Japanese people and descendants. The Bairro da Liberdade, the city’s Japantown, is a strong reference for this community, with gift shops, supermarkets and a famous Sunday street market selling everything from food to handicrafts.
The 50th and 110th Anniversaries of Japanese Immigration
In the 1950s, in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Japanese immigration, members of the Imperial Family visited Brazil, including the Mikasa princes couple.
Since then, celebrations have been held every decade. With interactive and engaging performances, the anniversary celebrations pay homage to Brazil’s cultural plurality, as well as the relationship of harmony and respect built over so many decades between Brazil and Japan.
In 2018, celebrations took place in several states in Brazil, particularly São Paulo, the state where the largest Japanese community in the country is concentrated.
The events celebrated 110 years of Japanese immigration to Brazil with cultural, artistic, sporting and culinary activities that symbolize Japan’s contribution to Brazilian society.
One example was the celebration of Japanese and Brazilian cultural exchange through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, an art with Japanese origins that developed into a worldwide Brazilian cultural symbol.
Historical Museum of Japanese Immigration in Brazil
The Historical Museum of Japanese Immigration in Brazil, located in São Paulo (SP), reopened after almost three months of work for structural modernization and improvements to its collection.
For those who want to know more about the history of Japanese immigration in Brazil, the museum exhibits two models of the Kasato Maru ship, which brought the first Japanese immigrants in 1908.
Its collection includes 97,000 documents, objects and newspapers from the period, bringing together records of moments experienced by immigrants during the First and Second World War periods.
Japanese Contributions to Brazilian Business, Agriculture and Culture
The Bairro da Liberdade in São Paulo became one of the strongest symbols of Japanese culture and heritage in Brazil.
In business, the relationship built between the two countries over the past few years has been one of equal respect and value.
From January to September 2018, for example, the 700 Japanese companies with offices or factories in Brazil invested around US$800 million in the country.
From the development of jiu-jitsu to the agricultural expansion of the Brazilian cerrado, from the introduction of eggplant into Brazilian cuisine to judo, it is difficult to list all the contributions that Japanese immigrants made to Brazil.
Japanese immigration also played an important role in agriculture, introducing more efficient techniques and contributing to the development of agricultural production in Brazil.
Japanese Influence Across Brazil
In the urban landscape, neighborhoods such as the Bairro da Liberdade, as well as cities such as Bastos, in São Paulo, and Assaí, in Paraná, still preserve characteristics associated with Japanese culture.
For travelers interested in São Paulo and the history of Japanese immigration, Soul Brasil’s São Paulo Guide also highlights Liberdade as one of the city’s most vibrant neighborhoods and an important center of Japanese and Asian culture.
In the field of religions inherited by Japanese immigrants, Buddhism stands out. It arrived in Brazil in the early 20th century but was persecuted because of prejudice against Eastern religions and because of the language barrier.
Brazilian Culture Also Influenced Japan
But Brazilians living in Japan also leave their mark.
According to Japanese ambassador Akira Yamada, in an interview with a Brazilian government vehicle in 2018, Brazilian people living in Japan contributed to enriching Japanese culture and customs.
As examples, we can mention former soccer player Zico, who was important to the development of soccer in Japan.
Samba and pagode, as well as Brazilian barbecue, are also much appreciated by Japanese people.
There were about 200,000 Brazilian workers living in Japan until 2018, and it is speculated that they were responsible for helping disseminate Brazilian art and culture in that country.
Brazil-Japan Relations and Economic Investment
Like any reciprocal and bilateral relationship, there are gains for both sides.
Japanese immigration made an important and inestimable contribution to Brazil: from the introduction of more efficient agricultural techniques in the early 20th century, through scientific contributions and the installation of large Japanese multinational companies in the country, to investments in different sectors of the Brazilian economy.
According to data from the Brazilian Central Bank, approximately US$28.4 billion were invested by Japanese companies in Brazil from 2008 to 2018.
Brazil and Japan: Sports, Culture and a Lasting Relationship
Brazil-Japan relations developed through more than a century of cultural, economic, sporting and social exchange.
To further strengthen the relationship between these two countries, it is worth mentioning an important sporting event such as the Copa America, which was held in Brazil in 2019 and received the Japanese national team as a guest country.
In addition, exchanges of ideas about the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which were scheduled to take place in Tokyo in 2021, were being held between the two countries, and further exchanges in the sports area were expected.
Brazil and Japan have been united by cordiality and cooperation for several decades, and each year this relationship, strengthened by history, grows stronger.
FAQ – Japanese Immigration to Brazil
1. When did Japanese immigration to Brazil begin?
Japanese immigration to Brazil officially began in 1908, when the Kasato Maru arrived carrying more than 700 Japanese immigrants who came primarily to work on coffee plantations in São Paulo.
2. Where is the largest Japanese community in Brazil?
São Paulo has the largest concentration of Japanese people and their descendants in Brazil. The Bairro da Liberdade is one of the country’s best-known centers of Japanese and Asian culture.
3. How many Japanese descendants live in Brazil?
The original article states that, by 2020, the Japanese-descendant population in Brazil had reached almost two million people, making Brazil home to the largest Japanese community outside Japan.
4. What did Japanese immigrants contribute to Brazil?
Japanese immigrants contributed to Brazilian agriculture, business, science, cuisine, sports and culture. Their influence can be seen in areas including agricultural techniques, judo, jiu-jitsu, Japanese cuisine and communities such as Liberdade, Bastos and Assaí.
5. How have Brazil and Japan influenced each other’s cultures?
The cultural exchange has worked in both directions. Japanese immigrants helped shape Brazilian society, while Brazilians living in Japan have contributed to Japanese culture through soccer, samba, pagode, Brazilian barbecue and other aspects of Brazilian culture.
