Stuff contributed by Henrique

Celebration of International Nikkei Day in Brazil
Henrique Minatogawa
International Nikkei Day is celebrated on June 20th. This year, due to the world situation, the celebrations took place in other formats.

Uchinaguchi classes preserves culture and reinforces Okinawa identity in Sao Paulo
Henrique Minatogawa
Okinawa culture marks its presence in Sao Paulo city, Brazil, through activities and events organized by the local associations. Music, dance, and cooking are the main elements used to promote it.

The work of two multicultural Nikkei tattoo artists
Henrique Minatogawa
From about 10 years ago, tattoo has been gaining another status in Brazil. Previously, the common peception was that only gangsters had them. Today, people of various professions and backgrounds carry on the body what is increasingly accepted as a “work of art”.

Little Changes in Family Celebrations
Henrique Minatogawa
We know that many Japanese came to Brazil over 100 years ago. They brought their culture with them, which their descendants preserve, but at the same time, it has evolved over time. One part of this culture’s customs is the celebrations. So, I talked with two professionals who work in …

The Shogi Challenge in Brazil
Henrique Minatogawa
Pawn, tower, horse, bishop, and king, in Brazil, these names refer to chess pieces. Not that chess is extremely popular in this country it is only that many people have at least some knowledge of its basic rules. The expression "checkmate" for example, is used in various everyday situations. I …

Nikkei LGBT Talk About Prejudice and Acceptance - Part 1
Henrique Minatogawa
According to the 2010 census conducted by IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics), there are approximately 190 million people living in Brazil. Of these, approximately 1.5 million are Japanese or descendants of Japanese, or less than 1% of the country’s population, according to data from Japan’s Ministry of Foreign …

Nikkei Pastry Chef Spreads Yogashi in Brazil
Henrique Minatogawa
Many people in Brazil tend to assume that Nikkei are interested exclusively in Japanese culture. If a Nikkei is keen on sports, the sport must be karate; if s/he likes music, it must be enka; if s/he draws, it must be manga. While these assumptions may occasionally be true, they …

Japanese Grocery Stores: An Appreciation
Henrique Minatogawa
Some years ago, I worked in a publishing house in São Paulo’s Vila Mariana district. Nearby, there was a Japanese grocery store, where I would go to buy a bento at lunchtime.