The Japantown in Brazil
The Bairro Oriental (Oriental neighboorhood) of São Paulo - living within the chaos of its walls, the same question crossed my aching mind. ‘Why did these Japanese people traverse the ocean and build a town for themselves half way cross the planet?’ In this column, the author conveys the history and current state of the Japantowns in Brazil he has visited, while simultaneously being conscious of the above question.
Stories from this series
Part 15 (final) — The present and future of Japantown
July 24, 2008 • Sachio Negawa
If you go to Sao Paulo, you can meet "Japan." This is a common understanding among young people in Brasilia, about 1,000 kilometers inland from Sao Paulo. The "Sao Paulo" they refer to seems to refer to the Oriental Town. My students came all the way from Brasilia to attend the concert of Japanese Kabuki rock artist Miyabi on May 22 and 23, 2008. The concert was held at the auditorium of the Japanese Cultural Association, one of the centers …
Part 14: Chinese and Koreans move into Oriental Town
June 19, 2008 • Sachio Negawa
Recently, in the Oriental Quarter of São Paulo, one often hears lamentations from Nikkei people that "this area used to be a Japanese town, but now it's full of Chinese and Koreans." Just by looking at the signs in traditional and simplified characters, one can see the dramatic expansion of Chinese stores (Photo 14-1). In fact, the modern appearance of the Brazilian Hakka Activities Center (four stories above ground, three stories below), built in 2005 diagonally across the intersection from …
No.13 Cantarela Street - The Vanished Japanese Town -
April 24, 2008 • Sachio Negawa
As mentioned before, there were several areas in São Paulo that were known as "Japanese towns" (see Pinheiros District, Part 5 of this series). From before the war to during the war, the area known as the "Conde Neighborhood" was the largest, followed by the Pinheiros District, and then the area around the Municipal Central Market (Mercado Municipal), known as "Cantarrera Street" after the name of a street there (see Map 5-1).In the past, the Cantarrera area was home to …
No. 12 The formation of Oriental Town and Issei leaders (2) - Tsuyoshi Mizumoto -
March 27, 2008 • Sachio Negawa
"Oriental Town, the Oriental Festival, the Oriental Market, the construction of the torii gates, and the lily of the valley lanterns all came from Mizumoto's mind..." Former Sao Paulo mayor Miguel Colasuono, who served as mayor of Sao Paulo from 1973 to 1975 and launched the Oriental Town together with Mizumoto Tsuyoshi, said, "Whenever he had a new idea, he couldn't keep quiet and would call me even late at night, saying, 'Hey Miguel, listen to me...' That's how close …
Part 11: The formation of the Oriental Town and its Issei leaders (1) – Yoshikazu Tanaka –
Feb. 21, 2008 • Sachio Negawa
In any stage of immigration history around the world, there have been powerful leaders in the early stages of the formation of ethnic towns. When thinking of prominent Japanese leaders involved in the founding of São Paulo's Oriental Town, the first to come to mind are Yoshikazu Tanaka (1909-1979) and Tsuyoshi Mizumoto (1920-1989).As already mentioned (Part 6: The Formation and Development of the Oriental Town ①), in 1953, Cine Niteroi opened a little way down Galvão Bueno Street from Liberdade …
Chapter 10 (extras: part 2) Londrina – The Nikkei Cultural Movement & The Matsuri Dance
Jan. 10, 2008 • Sachio Negawa
Recently in Brazil, terms such as “Nikkei culture” and “Shin (new) Nikkei culture” have become popular to use, especially among the Japanese-language papers. These terms are used to describe a “culture based upon ‘Japanese culture’ with a Brazilian-style influence.” This shows that there is a conscious differentiation between the “Japanese culture of Japan” and the “Japanese culture of Brazil,” defining the latter as a “Nikkei culture” that is a part of the multicultural “Brazilian culture.” Currently, the area that is …
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