Japanese Brazilians: A Century of Migration, Identity, and Cultural Exchange

Introduction

When people think of Japanese culture abroad, the first countries that come to mind may be the United States or Canada. Yet the largest Japanese community outside of Japan is in Brazil, home to over 2 million descendants of Japanese immigrants. Known as Japanese Brazilians or Nikkei, this group’s history reflects both hardship and resilience.

From the early 20th century, when Japanese farmers first arrived to work on Brazilian coffee plantations, to the late 20th century, when their descendants moved back to Japan as dekasegi (migrant workers), the story of Japanese Brazilians is a transnational journey. It is a story of identity, adaptation, and cultural exchange that still influences both Brazil and Japan today.

For readers in the U.S. and U.K., this unique migration history offers valuable lessons about diaspora identity, multiculturalism, and how migration reshapes both home and host countries.

The First Wave: Japanese Immigration to Brazil

Japanese migration to Brazil began in 1908, when the ship Kasato Maru docked in São Paulo with 781 migrants. Japan at the time faced rural poverty and overpopulation, while Brazil sought workers for its booming coffee industry.

Early Japanese migrants endured grueling conditions. Many signed contracts expecting quick wealth and a return home but stayed permanently. By the 1930s, Brazil was home to over half a million Japanese. They built rural colonies in São Paulo and Paraná, preserving language and traditions while facing discrimination as outsiders.

World War II deepened tensions. Brazil, allied with the U.S. and Britain, banned Japanese-language schools and publications. Many immigrants were caught between loyalty to Japan and Brazil, leading to painful community splits between those who believed Japan had won the war (kachigumi) and those who accepted its defeat (makegumi).

Integration and Success in Brazil

Despite these struggles, Japanese Brazilians rose from rural farmers to urban professionals by the 1960s. The second generation (Nisei) and third (Sansei) became known for their focus on education, hard work, and integrity. A phrase emerged in Brazilian Portuguese: “japonês garantido” (trusted Japanese), highlighting the community’s reputation.

Japanese Brazilians also reshaped Brazilian life. They introduced fruits like strawberries and fuji apples, popularized martial arts such as judo and aikido, and influenced cuisine with staples like ramen and matcha. In São Paulo, the neighborhood of Liberdade became the cultural heart of the Nikkei community, hosting festivals such as Tanabata and attracting visitors worldwide.

By the 1970s, Japanese Brazilians were often seen as a model minority—respected for success yet still marked as “different.”

The Reverse Migration: Japanese Brazilians in Japan

Ironically, just as Japanese Brazilians had secured a place in Brazil, economic shifts created a new migration pattern. During the 1980s, Japan’s economy surged, but labor shortages left so-called “3K jobs” (dirty, dangerous, demanding) unfilled. In 1990, Japan amended its immigration law, granting descendants of Japanese emigrants (up to third generation) work visas.

Suddenly, thousands of Japanese Brazilians moved to Japan as dekasegi workers. By the late 1990s, over 300,000 Brazilians lived in Japan, concentrated in factory towns such as Hamamatsu, Toyota, and Toyohashi.

However, their “return” was complicated. In Brazil, they were “Japanese.” In Japan, they were treated as foreigners. Many struggled with Japanese language skills, cultural differences, and exclusion from mainstream society. Children often faced bullying in schools or dropped out entirely due to language barriers.

This created a crisis of identity: Japanese Brazilians realized they were “in-between,” fully accepted in neither country.

Education and the Identity Challenge

Education has been a critical issue for Japanese Brazilians in Japan. As of 2020, around 30,000 Brazilian children lived in Japan, many caught between Brazilian schools, Japanese public schools, or none at all. Lack of continuity left some without clear futures.

Innovations such as Portuguese as a Heritage Language (PLH) programs aim to preserve Portuguese while helping children integrate into Japanese society. This dual approach allows them to maintain cultural roots while navigating life in Japan.

Still, challenges remain. Japanese society has only recently begun adapting classrooms for foreign children, and questions of belonging continue to weigh heavily on young Nikkei.

Culture, Religion, and Community

In both Brazil and Japan, Japanese Brazilians have blended traditions from both cultures. In Brazil, Buddhist rituals, Tanabata festivals, and Japanese cuisine remain central to Nikkei life. In Japan, Brazilian festivals such as samba carnivals have taken root, while Portuguese-language churches and newspapers serve immigrant communities.

Religion also highlights the divide. While many Japanese Brazilians are Catholic, they often worship in Portuguese, separate from Japanese congregations. Meanwhile, “New Religions” such as Seicho-no-Ie, which had gained followers in Brazil, found fertile ground among dekasegi migrants in Japan.

A Dual Diaspora

Today, the Japanese Brazilian community illustrates the concept of a dual diaspora. In Brazil, Nikkei are considered Japanese. In Japan, they are seen as Brazilian. Their identity shifts depending on where they live, shaped by language, race, and history.

This dual identity is not simply a challenge—it is also a source of resilience. By drawing on two cultures, Japanese Brazilians have carved out unique spaces that reflect transnational life.

Migration between Brazil and Japan continues to be cyclical. Economic downturns in one country often trigger movement to the other. At its peak, more than 300,000 Brazilians lived in Japan. Today, around 230,000 remain, making them the largest Portuguese-speaking community in Asia.

Lessons for the U.S. and U.K.

For readers in the United States and United Kingdom—both home to large immigrant populations—the story of Japanese Brazilians offers timely lessons:

1. Diaspora identity is fluid. Migrants may be seen as “foreign” in both their homeland and host country, creating hybrid identities.

2. Education is key. Access to inclusive schooling determines whether immigrant children can thrive or fall into cycles of marginalization.

3. Cultural exchange enriches societies. Japanese Brazilians transformed Brazilian food, sports, and festivals; in Japan, they brought samba and carnival.

4. Policy shapes belonging. Japan’s immigration reforms both opened doors and created exclusions, showing how law impacts identity.

Conclusion

The story of Japanese Brazilians is one of resilience, adaptation, and cultural exchange across continents. From the coffee plantations of São Paulo to the factories of Nagoya, their journey reveals the complexities of migration and identity in a globalized world.

As Brazil and Japan continue their cultural and economic ties, Japanese Brazilians remain a bridge between two nations. Their history reminds us that diaspora communities, while often caught between worlds, enrich the societies they inhabit.

For audiences in the U.S. and U.K., their story underscores a universal truth: migration doesn’t just change where people live—it transforms who they are, and in turn, reshapes the world around them.