Historical background
In April it was 120 years since the arrival of the first 790 Japanese immigrants to Peru. All of them carried a suitcase loaded with hopes and desires to work, with the hope that, after a few years of sacrifice and effort, they would be able to return to Japan and reunite with their families.
However, the reality was another. They had to face many adversities, among them the language, the food, the difference in cultures, discrimination, and breach of contract. But, overcoming all this, the years passed and many made Peru their new homeland without forgetting their roots and transmitting their legacy to new generations.
This same story would be repeated 90 years later, but in reverse, when on February 28, 1989, the first contingent of 30 Nikkei Peruvians began the trip to Japan to work, with a view to a better future for their families.
While in Peru political and economic conditions and terrorism were becoming increasingly critical, Japan was experiencing an unprecedented economic boom. The Japanese economy was growing strongly in an atmosphere of euphoria that was called the “bubble era.”
At that time, the domestic market was experiencing an ever-increasing increase in demand and abroad, Japanese products were invading the world. For this reason, the manufacturing industry required a greater number of unskilled workers.
Return
During the early 1980s, many companies hired workers from Southeast Asia. But, due to a series of problems such as language, religion, customs and, what was most serious, documentation, the Government is beginning to see the possibility of hiring descendants of Japanese from Brazil and Peru.
While the government was studying this possibility, representatives of some companies were traveling to South America in order to contact Nikkei workers, offering them a well-paid job with accommodation and everything necessary. This is how the massive emigration of the Nikkei towards the land of their ancestors begins.
External factors and current situation
30 years have passed and we dekasegi have experienced two economic crises, the one at the end of 1989, with the bursting of the economic bubble, and then at the end of 2008, the global economic recession (L ehman Brothers shock ). As if that were not enough, we had to experience two earthquakes, the one in Kobe officially called Hanshin-Awaji Dai Shinsai , which occurred on January 17, 1995, and the one on March 11, 2011, Higashi Nihon Dai Shinsai , with subsequent tsunami and leak in the Fukushima nuclear plant.
Despite all the vicissitudes experienced in these years, Nikkei families have a certain economic stability, they formed their family here, and their children study in Japanese schools, many of whom have received professional training in prestigious universities, integrating into society; Even many of the first and second generation of dekasegi have made the dream of owning their own home come true.
Statistical data
Currently, according to statistical data provided by the Ministry of Justice (June 2018), the population of foreigners has increased for six consecutive years, reaching the record number of 2.6 million (1.6% of the total population), of which 48 One thousand are Peruvian and 196 thousand Brazilian, among others.
Dekasegi problem
Despite the achievements of some families, the majority still have the same problems as they did then. I mean that they continue to work in the manufacturing sector for contracting companies or subsidiaries whose contracts are short-term.
On the other hand, the low level of the Japanese language only allows them to work in sectors where they do not require specialized professional training, resulting in few opportunities to find better jobs. Added to this is the advanced age of the first immigrants.
Immigration opening
Currently, due to a lack of labor in the areas of construction, manufacturing, agriculture, services in general, among others; Since April of this year, the reform of the Immigration Law came into effect, which will allow the entry of a greater number of foreign workers from Southeast Asian countries that have bilateral agreements with Japan. The Government will admit up to 345 thousand workers within a period of five years.
For the Latin American dekasegi this could be counterproductive, since competition for a job becomes more difficult, since the labor interns are very young and with salaries well below those of the Nikkei, so they can be easily replaced. For this reason, it is essential to master the Japanese language or have letters of qualification in a specialty that allows them to be necessary in their role.
Social promotion
The second generation, that is, the children born or raised in Japan, represent a great qualitative leap in the evolution of the Peruvian community, given that they are knowledgeable about two cultures and two languages and in this globalized world they can become the human resources that Japan and the world need it.
Unfortunately time does not forgive, just as it happened with the pioneers who arrived in Peru and stayed, the colony of Peruvian Nikkei put down its roots and although at first we all had the intention of staying two or three years, this did not happen, because our Plans varied more than anything due to the education of our children, first we thought that they finish compulsory education ( Sho gakko and Chu gakko ), then that they finish Koko (upper secondary). But they, already at 18 years of age, decided to pursue a career in universities, technological schools or work in factories. And that's how we stayed.
As a result of this decision, we currently have the children of the first generation of Nikkei in Japan standing out in different professional fields, such as engineers, doctors, economists, social communicators, athletes, among other professions.
National identity
And we will continue here until our strength and economy allow it, without forgetting that we are the ambassadors of a country that welcomed our ancestors and that due to life circumstances, we Nikkei had to undertake the road back to Japan, carrying a heavy backpack. with two cultures and, therefore, we have the duty to make our values known to Japanese society.
In that sense, the Nikkei community in Japan is concerned that the following generations preserve their identity, creating workshops to teach the Spanish language and typical Peruvian dances. Here the children participate actively and with great enthusiasm, since it is in these workshops where they can share their experiences with other children and practice their mother tongue.
Uncertain future
A last but important topic is about the future of the first generation of dekasegi (now residents) and that of their family.
Last January, a workshop organized by the research group “Japanese Presence in the American Continent” (PJECA), called Peruvians in Japan Ⅸ “Dialogue between the first generations”, was held in the city of Ōta, Gunma prefecture, whose purpose It was to hear from first source their experiences, concerns and difficulties that they had to live through all these years.
Likewise, the issue of the education and future of their children (second generation) and a crucial issue: the family future after living so many years in Japan. The main concern of those attending was about retirement, years of contributions, and if “we could live with the monthly pension.”
In the early nineties, none of us Latin Nikkei planned to stay long in Japan, so retirement was not a priority issue, although it is mandatory, we did not join. But as time went by and seeing that the years were approaching us, we decided to join.
To the relief of many, as of August 2017 the Pension System established that the minimum contribution period to receive the retirement pension would be reduced to 10 years (normally it was 25 years at least), however, the pension to be received is proportional to the contributions, therefore he could not even afford to rent a home.
On the topic of the education and future of their children
Undoubtedly, everyone agreed that the best thing for them is to study and train professionally here, and decide their future themselves. So the question we all ask ourselves is, what to do?
Work and contribute as much as they allow us? Return to Peru and separate from our families? Invest in real estate? Start a business?
Questions that are difficult to answer because each person, depending on their situation, will have to define at some point the direction to take.
© 2019 Takashi Takahashi
