Pioneers of the cerrado

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Published: Sept. 1, 2008 Modified: April 11, 2025

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Album

Pioneers of the cerrado

Rice and Wheat (Rice and wheat field in the cerrado)

Two fields seem to be divided like a river and a sea. In the photo, rice fields can be seen on the left and wheat fields on the right. Both crops could never be considered in a region like São Gotardo, but the research and efforts of the PADAP pioneers proved otherwise. -- In the photo, wheat fields can be seen on the right and rice fields on the right. Both crops were impossible before the development of PADAP in the Cerrado. This image was kindly provided by Mr. Luiz Isamu Sasaki on the occasion of the Discover Nikkei symposium: “100 Years of Japanese Immigration: The Multiple Identities of the Nikkei Community” held on September 20, 2008 at the Japan Foundation in São Paulo. The use of this image is prohibited without written permission from Mr. Sasaki. For more information, contact acervo@bunkyo.org.br

Commemorative parade (Cotia Cooperative is a multi-force force for progress)

The PADAP project (Programa de Assentamento Diregido do Alto Paranaíba, coordinated by the Cooperativa Agrícola de Cotia) aimed to develop the Brazilian savannah. Thanks to the project, an entire region of Minas Gerais developed rapidly. In the photo, you can see the banner that says the cooperative would be a force for progress placed on one of the cars in the parade to welcome Governor Rondon Pacheco during the inauguration of the asphalt, courthouse and airport in 1974. This image was kindly provided by Mr. Luiz Isamu Sasaki on the occasion of the Discover Nikkei symposium: “100 Years of Japanese Immigration: The Multiple Identities of the Nikkei Community” held on September 20, 2008 at the Japan Foundation in São Paulo. The use of this image is prohibited without written permission from Mr. Sasaki. For more information, contact acervo@bunkyo.org.br

Parade of the first PADAP machines (Tractor parade in São Gotardo)

Tractor parade of the PADAP project held in the city of São Gotardo in 1974. The photo shows the huge line of vehicles that -- On the occasion of the PADAP project - Program for Settlement of the Upper Paranaíba São Gotardo watches the parade of machines that would begin the process of development of the Brazilian savannah. The city's development accelerated due to the project and today it is one of the agricultural hubs of the country. This image was kindly provided by Mr. Luiz Isamu Sasaki on the occasion of the Discover Nikkei symposium: “100 Years of Japanese Immigration: The Multiple Identities of the Nikkei Community” held on September 20, 2008 at the Japan Foundation in São Paulo. The use of this image without written authorization from Mr. Sasaki is prohibited. For more information, contact: acervo@bunkyo.org.br

Japanese language school of São Gotardo (Japanese school in São Gotardo)

Inauguration of the São Gotardo Cultural and Sports Charitable Association. The institution even had a Japanese language school that served the children of the pioneers of the Cerrado. -- The Japanese language school began its activities in São Gotardo, Minas Gerais, in 1976. The school was built so that the children of the pioneers could study and thus the traditions of Japanese culture would not be lost. This image was kindly provided by Mr. Luiz Isamu Sasaki on the occasion of the Discover Nikkei symposium: “100 Years of Japanese Immigration: The Multiple Identities of the Nikkei Community” held on September 20, 2008 at the Japan Foundation in São Paulo. The use of this image without written permission from Mr. Sasaki is prohibited. For more information, contact acervo@bunkyo.org.br

1st Coffee Nursery (Coffee Nursery in the Cerrado)

First coffee nursery in the Cerrado. Coffee was one of the first crops to be successfully planted. In the photo, pioneer Luiz Sasaki next to coffee seedlings in 1974. -- Luiz Sasaki in the middle of the first experimental coffee nursery set up by cooperative members in the Cerrado region in São Gotardo, Minas Gerais. The work is the result of the Alto Paranaíba Directed Settlement Program initiated by the Cotia Agricultural Cooperative in partnership with the Minas Gerais State government in 1974. This image was kindly provided by Mr. Luiz Isamu Sasaki on the occasion of the Discover Nikkei symposium: “100 Years of Japanese Immigration: The Multiple Identities of the Nikkei Community” held on September 20, 2008 at the Japan Foundation in São Paulo. The use of this image without written permission from Mr. Sasaki is prohibited. For more information contact: acervo@bunkyo.org.br

(1st experimental coffee nursery in the cerrado)

First experimental coffee nursery of the PADAP project (Program for Directed Settlement of the Upper Paranaíba). Here the first coffee bean from the plantation in the Brazilian Cerrado was harvested. This image was kindly provided by Mr. Luiz Isamu Sasaki on the occasion of the Discover Nikkei symposium: “100 Years of Japanese Immigration: The Multiple Identities of the Nikkei Community” held on September 20, 2008 at the Japan Foundation in São Paulo. The use of this image without written permission from Mr. Sasaki is prohibited. For more information, contact acervo@bunkyo.org.br

Saint Gotthard's Birthday (Nikkeis at ABSESG)

Students from the Japanese language school in São Gotardo during the city's anniversary parade in 1985. -- Students from the Japanese language school at the city's anniversary parade in São Gotardo in 1985. This image was kindly provided by Mr. Luiz Isamu Sasaki on the occasion of the Discover Nikkei symposium: “100 Years of Japanese Immigration: The Multiple Identities of the Nikkei Community” held on September 20, 2008 at the Japan Foundation in São Paulo. The use of this image without written permission from Mr. Sasaki is prohibited. For more information, contact acervo@bunkyo.org.br

Pioneers in the Legislative Assembly (Pioneers in the Legislative Assembly)

A group of pioneers in the exploration of the Cerrado meet at the Minas Gerais Legislative Assembly in Belo Horizonte in 1974 to demand funding for the project. -- Some of the men involved in the project in the region of São Gotardo - MG. The photo shows the pioneers meeting at the Minas Gerais Legislative Assembly to demand funding for the project.

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In the 1960s, some young people accepted the challenge of embarking on a pioneering venture in Brazilian agriculture. The Alto Paranaíba Settlement Program (PADAP), an initiative of the Cotia Agricultural Cooperative, planned to transform the cerrado area, which until then had been considered a no man's land with no prospects for agriculture. Where there had previously been only trees with twisted branches, potatoes, wheat, rice, coffee and garlic were planted and harvested. The pioneers of the cerrado brought about a previously unthinkable transformation; today this region is considered one of Brazil's great agricultural breadbaskets. This collection is a record and a tribute to those who accepted and overcame this challenge. This collection was created especially for the symposium "100 years of Japanese immigration: The multiple identities of the Nikkei community" held on September 20, 2008 at the Japan Foundation in São Paulo, Brazil. The photos are courtesy of Mr. Luiz Isamu Sasaki, a pioneer in the Brazilian savannah who shared his experiences through the symposium and leaves this record on Discover Nikkei.