As the year drew to a close, my mother always said, “We Nikkei are so lucky! We get to enjoy both Brazilian and Japanese traditional celebrations. At Christmas, we celebrate with Brazilian panettone, decorate the tree, and exchange gifts with loved ones. On New Year’s Day, we indulge in traditional Japanese delicacies like mochi, zoni, and enjoy watching the kohaku utagassen together as a family. We are truly fortunate!”
I agreed with her. I’ve always thought Nikkei families in Brazil celebrate the year-end and New Year similarly. Moving from Sao Paolo to Parana state, however, taught me that they have different Christmas traditions. Christmas time transforms the city into a wonderland of lights reminiscent of Japan, as families and tourists gather to witness the spectacle.
I witnessed celebrations that were both beautiful and moving, almost beyond words in two cities of Parana state.
Dreamlike Christmas in Assaí
The history of the city of Assaí, nestled in northern Parana state, is closely linked to the Asian community, particularly the Nikkei. The immigrant community of fazenda Três Barras was established by Burataku (Brazil Exploration Limited Liability Association), who later sold the land in 1932. As a result, Tres Palaces saw a large influx of Japanese immigrants.
Initially, the Tres Palaces settlement was called “Assailand or asahi land,” a combination of the Japanese word “asahi” and the English word “land,” signifying “land where the sun rises.” The city was established in 1944 and renamed Assaí.
The 2022 Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics survey found that 11.5% of Assaí’s residents identified as “yellow race,” making it the city with the highest proportion of this demographic in Brazil.
To celebrate 110 years of Japanese immigration, Assaí city built Brazil’s first Japanese-style castle in 2018. The castle’s opening was attended by 4,000 people, consisting of locals and others who celebrated with great joy.
Given that Paraná is a sister state of Hyogo prefecture, the castle in Assaí was modelled after Himeji Castle with distinctive white walls, and two torii gates adorned the stairs leading to the castle, symbolizing the presence of Japanese immigrants.
With its four stories and stone wall, the castle reaches a height of 25 meters. Situated atop the city’s highest hill, it’s visible from every corner.
The castle’s first floor showcases historical artifacts and photographic displays. The second floor offers a multi-purpose room suitable for events and receptions. The Japanese Immigration Memorial Museum is on the third floor, and the fourth floor is occupied by the Office of City Culture and Tourism Bureau.
Assaí residents were enchanted by the groundbreaking Christmas festivities in December 2021.
The Folha de Londrina newspaper reported on the Christmas event at the castle with an article titled “Assaí Displays Christmas Projection at Japanese-Style Castle.”
Using the projection method known as 3D projection mapping, the innovative event projected numerous images onto the castle wall. The mayor of Assaí and his team planned it, while Starlusion company located in Londrina produced it.
The depiction on the castle wall showed Santa Claus’s journey, starting in Lapland, traveling around the globe, and ending in Brazil. The scenes featured Amazonian landscapes, animals, plants, and the allure of samba. The flag of Parana, Iguazu Falls, cherry blossoms, and kimonos representing the Japanese immigrant city Assaí were also featured. After the projection mapping ended, Santa Claus emerged, saying “Ho ho ho, Merry Christmas” to the excited crowd.
Here is the video of the dreamlike Christmas in Assaí.
Christmas at the Japanese Garden
The city of Maringá was established in 1947 and has the third largest Nikkei population in the state.
Research conducted by both Maringá University’s statistic division and the office of town development shows that 4.3% of Maringá’s population is Nikkei. This data is part of the 2009 Nikkei census complied to commemorate the 100th year of Japanese immigration to Brazil.
The sister city relationship with Kakogawa in Hyogo prefecture resulted in the opening of Japanese Park in Maringá in 2014. Spanning 10,000 square meters, this park, located in the environmental protection zone, is the most extensive Japan-themed park in Brazil.
The Japanese Garden is the most notable feature. Japanese garden designers Hiroshi Kawashimo and Tadanori Maekawa were responsible for the garden’s design.
This Japanese garden boasts walking paths, a koi pond, a tea house (a gift from Kakegawa city), an event hall, and a restaurant, and is used for Japan-related events to promote Japanese culture. Residents of Maringá use the park for leisure, and it is a popular destination for tourists.
“Maringá Encantada—Enchanting Maringa,” which took place on December 1, 2023, drew in over 320,000 visitors, with an average of over 8,000 daily attendees.
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I am writing this draft in November. The Japanese Park’s Christmas event begins on December 6. I am looking forward to visiting Maringá to take the video of the festivities again this year.
Merry Christmas!
© 2024 Laura Honda-Hasegawa