A Small Corner Of Brazil Would Be Okinawa – Who could have predicted that the Okinawan language would find refuge in Brazil just as it began to diminish in Japan? Leticia Mori from BBC Brasil shares this intriguing report from São Paulo. As you stroll through the Liberdade district, you might easily find yourself convinced that you’ve stepped into Tokyo.
A Small Corner Of Brazil Would Be Okinawa
oragoo – The vibrant atmosphere and distinct cultural influences create an immersive experience that transports you far from your surroundings. The influences of Japanese immigration are most prominently displayed in this vibrant area of Brazil’s largest metropolis.
Nowhere else in the country can one observe such a remarkable blend of cultures. The shopfronts feature names written in Japanese, showcasing a diverse array of offerings that range from authentic Japanese cuisine and kitchenware to traditional home décor.
Each establishment presents a unique glimpse into the rich cultural tapestry of Japan. Vibrant red archways and a serene Japanese garden enchant visitors who venture into this hidden gem of Brazil.
The annual celebration of Japanese migration to Brazil commemorates the significant date of June 18, 1908. On this day, the Japanese vessel Kasato-Maru docked at the port of Santos, located south of São Paulo, carrying the first 781 individuals who sought to benefit from a bilateral agreement fostering migration. Half of the individuals hailed from the southern region of Okinawa, situated approximately 640 km (400 miles) south of mainland Japan. This area boasts a unique language and rich cultural heritage that predates the island’s annexation by Tokyo in 1879.
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Today, Brazil proudly hosts the largest community of Japanese descendants outside of Japan, with a remarkable population of approximately 1.5 million individuals.
Why did they migrate from Okinawa?
Japanese authorities actively endorsed emigration as a national policy until the late 1960s. This initiative was aimed at alleviating poverty and addressing overpopulation, particularly encouraging individuals from rural areas to seek employment opportunities abroad. Getty Images captures a moment on June 14, 2014, featuring women in Liberdade, a vibrant neighborhood in central São Paulo known for its significant population of Japanese descendants.
Brazil is home to a substantial community of individuals with roots tracing back to Japanese immigrants. Historically, there were initiatives aimed at deploying migrants as laborers in Hawaii’s sugarcane fields, as well as on the US mainland, Canada’s West Coast, and, to a lesser degree, in Mexico. However, these efforts were ultimately short-lived, as the respective countries enacted immigration restrictions that curtailed such movements. Tokyo began to explore opportunities further south.
Brazil, which abolished slavery in 1888, sought inexpensive labor to toil in its southeastern coffee plantations.
Japanese migrants initially filled that gap; however, it soon became evident that they could achieve greater earnings by cultivating their own land.
The community quickly flourished as they cultivated the fertile, arable lands of Sao Paulo state. They revolutionized agricultural techniques and grew an impressive array of vegetables, rice, and greens, many of which they introduced to the nation.
Their innovative practices not only enhanced local agriculture but also contributed to the country’s diverse culinary landscape. In contrast to their homeland, where the Japanese government prohibited the Okinawan language after the islands’ annexation, Okinawans residing in Brazil enjoyed the liberty to express their language and celebrate their cultural heritage.
This freedom allowed them to preserve their identity and foster a vibrant community far from home. What has become of their language?
Yoko Gushiken, now 70 years old, arrived in Brazil at the age of 10. Yoko Gushiken (top row, far right) stands alongside her group of dance instructors.
After emigrating, she continued to practice traditional dances. Reflecting on her childhood in Okinawa, she recalls, “If we spoke Okinawan at school, we’d be punished, but at home, I spoke it secretly.” She mentions that she and her elder brother, both of whom have made Brazil their home, continue to converse in fluent Okinawan.
However, in Japan, the number of speakers is alarmingly limited, leading UNESCO to designate it as an endangered language.
Ms. Gushiken mentions that her sister, who remains in Japan, finds it challenging to comprehend.
“Once, during a visit, we attended the theatre together,” she reminisces.
“The play was performed in the Okinawan language.
” I embraced a full understanding, yet she remained unaware.
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Roots music or pop?
The vibrancy of Okinawan culture in Brazil has captured the attention of university students such as Mei Nakamura and Momoka Shimabukuro, who journeyed from Okinawa to São Paulo to reconnect with their heritage. Mei and Momoka Shimabukuro
Momoka Shimabukuro (left) has journeyed to Brazil to delve into her identity, while Mei Nakamura is pursuing her studies in psychology. Ms. Nakamura is particularly focused on uncovering how early migrants established their communities in their new homeland. Ms. Shimabukuro expresses that her visit is motivated by personal reasons:
“I was born and raised in Kin, a quaint town in Okinawa.” I seek to gain perspective from afar, in the hopes of discovering my own identity.
“Perhaps I shall discover happiness through this external perspective.”
Since the days of its annexation, Okinawa has undergone significant transformation, with Tokyo now endeavoring to highlight and celebrate Okinawan culture. “They are attempting to depict a ‘pop’ Okinawa, characterized by music and anime,” explains historian Ricardo Sorgon Pires.
“An increasing number of individuals are keen to explore their Okinawan heritage, which has subsequently sparked greater interest in Brazil,” notes the academic from the University of São Paulo.
Who sings in Okinawan?
Another young Okinawan, singer Megumi Gushi, has traveled to Brazil to explore her cultural heritage. The Associação Okinawana Kenjin do Brasil is honored to have Megumi Gushi as a featured artist.
Megumi Gushi, an accomplished sanshin player and vocalist, is currently in Brazil as part of an exchange program. Her goal is to refine her pronunciation skills to enhance her performances of traditional Okinawan music. During her sojourn in Sao Paulo, she engaged with elderly migrants and folklore groups that continue to preserve the art of playing the sanshin, a traditional string instrument adorned with snakeskin.
This immersive experience provided her with valuable insights into the cultural tapestry woven by these communities. Terio Uehara serves as the president of the Okinawa Association of Vila Carrao, an integral part of the exchange program.
His leadership plays a vital role in fostering international collaboration and cultural exchange. He posits that the vibrancy of Okinawan culture is a direct result of its perseverance, having thrived so far from its ancestral roots.
This distance has fostered a unique resilience and richness that defines its current expression. “In Okinawa, familial connections are held in the highest regard,” he states.
“Most descendants are aware of their family’s town of origin, and often know the specific district as well.”
Okinawans exemplify a strong sense of unity, which is especially crucial when they venture abroad.
It is essential for them to strengthen this bond further in unfamiliar environments.