Brazil Apologizes for Discrimination Against Japanese-Brazilians
The apology comes after action by Okinawan activists.
By Jay Andrew Allen
The links between Japan and Brazil date back over a century. Today, Brazil remains home to the largest ethnic Japanese population outside of Japan. However, the country wasn’t always kind to its Japanese-Brazilian population. Now, Brazil’s government is apologizing for the past and seeking to make amends.
“Hostile foreigners”
Between 1885 and 1923, the Japanese government, facing crushing poverty at home, encouraged mass migration abroad. Some half-million Japanese citizens went overseas looking for greener pastures during that time. After the US passed laws limiting Japanese immigration, many turned instead to Brazil, which was facing a severe labor shortage.
By the 1940s, the issei, or first-generation immigrants, were a powerful economic force in Brazil. However, they faced massive discrimination — both from regular citizens as well as from the government. The government cracked down on immigration and discouraged interracial marriage to prevent the “yellowing” of Brazil.
