There were many difficulties, sufferings and humiliations that Japanese immigrants from the American continent had to go through as a result of Japan's entry into the Second World War, with the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. However, Due to the space given to me, I only want to refer to the result of the war episode in the Latin American countries where Japanese immigration exists. Each of these countries had reacted differently but there was a common denominator in which they all agreed to show solidarity in favor of the United States of America.
This accession had repercussions for Japanese immigrants. Among the 13 countries in Latin America, the Japanese deported, according to Sakuda, numbered 2,118, of which 1,771 were from Peru. The other countries were Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Chile that suffered local arrests and exchanges established by the United States. The countries that did not get involved in these issues were Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Mexico and respected the dignity of these citizens, even when they exercised strict control over their activities.
Taking into account the position of each country and its relationship with Japan, it is important to focus on the situational aspect and receptivity of Japanese immigrants from the post-World War II period. Japan at that time urged the need for an imminent emigration of its citizens due to poverty, the return of the Japanese from lands such as Manchuria, Micronesia, the Philippines and other islands that have been confiscated by the winners and along with the former combatants numbered around 6.2 million Japanese, the need for relocation and granting them an appropriate place for them was urgent (Kikumura 2002).
The emigration of the Japanese became very necessary. At the end of the Second World War, some Latin American countries decided to support Japan, as happened with Peru, Paraguay and other countries so that Japan was admitted as a Member State of the United Nations Organization. However, despite this solidarity, few countries allowed post-war Japanese immigration. The countries that agreed to admit it were Bolivia, Paraguay and a little later the Dominican Republic. Over time, other countries agreed to the immigration of the Japanese. This way; According to data provided by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, JICA, Brazil registers a number of 71,373 people, Paraguay with 9,657, Bolivia with 6,357, Peru 2,615, Dominican Republic 1,390, Argentina 1,206, Mexico 671 and Chile 14.
Several of them were classified as kimin, those who were practically deported from Japan and considered people to whom the Japanese government could not provide its support and who emigrated to Latin America. The name kimin has several connotations, according to research made in different areas; On the one hand, these are emigrants abandoned to their fate, such as the case of the Dominican Republic, which caused many subsequent problems; On the other hand, it defines Japan as unnecessary citizens and a suterareta landmark.
The definition of kimin, according to the comments of the Japanese themselves living in Japan with respect to those who came to Latin America, was and continues to be of the second type. Which I found outrageous, because I think that immigrants do not deserve that marginal definition; Taking the case of the Dominican Republic, which had raised so much controversy, it happened during the government of General Trujillo that he offered favorable conditions to Japanese immigration (1956-1959) with the distribution of land, free food for six months, and development policy. agricultural. However, this did not happen because the Organization of American States did not support his government plans supported by dictatorial politics and then the subsequent fall of Trujillo, which ended in a disaster (Kasamatsu 2005), in addition, Japan had allowed his departure, without due protection and support from a local Japanese entity and had released him to his fate. Even though, upon learning of the situation, the government of Japan intervened to resolve the fate of these immigrants, who were given three options according to the stories of Seiki Uehara (JICA), which was to return to the country, move to other countries or, remain in the Dominican Republic. The government of Japan has decided to pay each citizen or their descendants (1 per family) the due compensation for this cause, which is valid until January 31, 2008.
As is known, Japanese immigrants to Latin America left the country due to the aforementioned circumstances that Japan was going through after the Second World War. These emigrants, together with the immigrants and descendants of the pre-war era who also had many similar difficulties and problems in their new settlements, can be observed in both cases, the correct behavior as good citizens of Japanese origin and had never as such involved in illegal acts, nor involved in problems that undermine human dignity as nihonjin. According to statistics, the rate of crime, illicit behavior and incorrect behavior is the lowest among all ethnic groups and is also almost zero. The Japanese and Nikkei are examples of work and correction and, they have been and continue to be the projection of Japan in these lands and they deserve special consideration and recognition and not to be derogatorily classified as kimin.
Regarding Paraguay as one of the first countries to accept Japanese immigration, the Government of President General Higinio Morínigo expressed solidarity with all the countries devastated by the Second World War and opened the doors of the republic to all types of immigrants. and for this purpose he enabled the fertile lands of southern Paraguay, in the Department of Itapua, and had earmarked them for international immigration. Since 1954, massive groups of Japanese immigrants entered the country, arriving one after another. The work of the Nippo Paraguaya de Colonización SRL (NPC), an entity receiving Japanese immigrants, which necessarily had to be managed by Japanese or a Japanese company, was arduous. . The aforementioned colonizer was chaired by Hisakazu Kasamatsu due to his previous experience in the colonization of La Colmena. He remembered that it was like a volunteer work and that he has done as much as humanly possible with a lot of dedication and necessary effort with Tanji Ishibashi and his son Jorge in caring for the newcomers. Due to lack of support from the Japanese government, as confirmed by Yasuo Wakatsuki, he had to contribute to the settlement expenses. However, Hisakazu remained optimistic and the enthusiasm and joy of receiving the post-Japanese in these lands was observed in him. war, (Wakatsuki 2001) prioritizing humanitarian sentiment to accommodate them and dedicate as much time as possible to assist them in these distant lands.
As a sign of his good will, Hisakazu, instead of returning home, had chosen to spend a new year with the immigrants who barely had anything to eat; in the midst of so many difficulties of settlement and poverty and wanted to show solidarity with them to encourage them and give them hope for being the first new year in Paraguay
In 1957, the Japanese Legation opened in Paraguay with the arrival of the Minister Plenipotentiary Otoshiro Kuroda, as well as the installation of the Company for the Promotion of Japanese Immigration, Kaikyoren, to care for immigrants in the formalization of agricultural colonies or Ijuuchi. In 1959, the Immigration Agreement was signed between the Governments of Paraguay and Japan, which established that Paraguay would receive 85,000 Japanese over a period of 30 years.
The policy of Stroessner's Paraguayan Government to encourage the immigration of Japanese for the country's agricultural development, especially, was a very successful vision. Under the protection of this agreement, successive colonies were formed in different areas of Paraguay, preferably in the south-east of the Republic, due to the richness of the soil and its strategic location close to the borders of Brazil and Argentina. These were dedicated to development especially in agriculture, horticulture and fruit growing and with the sustained support of the Japanese government after the creation of Ijuu Jigyodan (Japan Immigration Corporation Service) in 1963 and the JICA created in 1974. These colonies are considered as models of productivity, excellence in quality and performance and they were the ones who opened the doors to the international market for the export of Paraguayan soybeans. These considerations about the capabilities of Japanese immigration are very similar to post-war immigrants in Bolivia.
To conclude, the Paraguayan case was very favorable and special, from the beginning there was political will from the Paraguayan government with agreements from both countries; Regarding the organization and adequate planning of the companies receiving Japanese immigration, it was always recognized by Paraguayan legislation. Later the emigration companies of the Japanese Government sent their representatives and respected and developed on the experience of NPC and colonization in La Colmena (1936-41) which had already laid the solid foundation of Japanese immigration in Paraguay.
Regarding kimin, who remembers that he was once kimin? Or did they perhaps know that they are considered misuterata milestone? The important thing is to appreciate the effort that immigrants put in, especially in Latin America, and that it paid off. They knew how to overcome difficulties and pain and supported success and the achievement of reliability and quality on the American continent. It is a mistake that the Japanese in Japan continue to classify them, even in this 21st century, as kimin.
Bibliography
Kasamatsu, Emi. The Japanese presence in Paraguay. Paraguayan Studies Library, Catholic University, Asunción 1997.
------------------- History of the Pan-American Nikkei Association, Japanese presence and immigration in the Americas. Edit Servilibro, Asunción 2005.
Kikumura-Yano, Akemi ed. Encyclopedia of Japanese Descendants in the Americas: An Illustrated History of Nikkei. Walnut Creek, CA, AltaMira Press, 2002.
Sakuda, Alexander. The future was Peru. ESICOS, Lima 1999.
Wakatsuki, Yasuo. Gaimusho ga keshita nihonjin. Mainichi Newspaper, Tokyo 2001.
© 2007 Emi Kasamatsu
