A Day in Liberdade: The Nihon Machi of São Paulo

Licensing

I first became aware of the Japanese community in Brazil when I attended a judo event at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, California. There I was intrigued to see athletes like Sérgio Sano, a judoka who represented the Brazillian National team. Since that day, I added a trip to Brazil to learn about the Nikkei presence in Latin America on my list of things to do. On December 8, 2014, I finally had the opportunity to pay a visit to ​Bairro da Liberdade, São Paulo’s Japan town. The Japanese community in Brazil has deep historical origins in Liberdade. In a contemporary sense, Liberdade stands out as a very multi-culturally rich, vibrant public place with many kinds of Japanese-Brazillian storefronts, restaurants, community and religious centers, and small businesses including a museum dedicated to the history of Japanese Immigration—​Museu Histórico da Imigração Japonesa no Brasil. Liberdade is truly a symbol of the resilience of the Nikkei community abroad. The following are a few photos from my brief time in Liberdade. —Thomas Sakai Tsutsumoto Acknowledgements: I would like to personally thank Ms. Luciana Yotsumoto Shimizu Rodrigues for her guidance in Liberdade. I would also like to express my deepest gratitude to Gui Alves and Rachel Mamiya-Hernandez for their language assistance in preparation for this adventure. Muito obrigado a todos!

Slides in this album 

A Day in Liberdade: The Japantown of Brazil

Subway arrival area at Praça da Liberdade—Liberdade Plaza and Avenida da Liberdade.

Praça da Liberdade
Contributed by: holokai

Radio Taisso Tower Monument

Radio Taisso Tower Monument for the popular Japanese radio-broadcasted exercise program.

Radio Taisso Tower Monument
Contributed by: holokai

Multi-lingual Newspapers

The newspapers written in Portuguese, Japanese, and Chinese reflect the diversity of Liberdade.

Multi-lingual Newspapers
Contributed by: holokai

Nikkey Cultural

The Nikkey Cultural Group Center aims to bring participants with a common interest in Japanese culture through activities such as karaoke, music, and dance together. To learn more, see their website: www.nikkeycultural.com.br

Nikkey Cultural
Contributed by: holokai

Viatudo Mie Ken Monument

Mie Ken Viaduct monument symbolizing the connection between the Mie Prefecture of Japan and the State of São Paulo, Brasil on Rua da Gloria.

Viatudo Mie Ken Monument
Contributed by: holokai

Sapataria

Men socializing at a Japanese-style sapataria (shoe store).

Sapataria
Contributed by: holokai

Rua da Galvão

Light traffic and markets lining the main thoroughfare through Nihon machi.

Rua da Galvão
Contributed by: holokai

Chinese Mercearia

Chinese Mercearia (grocery store). Liberdade is multi-cultural and includes Chinese businesses.

Chinese Mercearia
Contributed by: holokai

Capela Nossa Senhora

Catholic Chapel surrounded with Japanese-style street lights in Liberdade.

Capela Nossa Senhora
Contributed by: holokai

Kokeshi dolls

Small kokeshi dolls of various colors. In this set, each color symbolizes a characteristic or personality trait.

Kokeshi dolls
Contributed by: holokai

Busy Liberdade Plaza

Busy intersection fronting the Liberdade Plaza. Notice the torii-style cross walk lights.

Busy Liberdade Plaza
Contributed by: holokai

Torii crosswalk light

Japanese-style designs characterize everything from architecture to street lights in Liberdade.

Torii crosswalk light
Contributed by: holokai

Album Type

community history

holokai — Last modified Jun 28 2021 1:49 a.m.


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