In Transit: a World of New Orders, 1937–40

Abstract

The annual total of Japanese immigrants to Brazil in the latter half of the 1930s was erratic; in 1936, there were approximately 3300, in 1937, 4400, and, in 1938, about 2500. After 1938, however, the figure dropped below 1500. It was to stay there until diplomatic relations between Japan and Brazil were cut at the start of 1942 following the outbreak of the Pacific war. Despite these fluctuations, the largest expatriate community of Japanese outside of East Asia at the end of the 1930s was to be found in Brazil. In the last years of the decade, there were to be increased restrictions on its freedom of expression and, as a consequence, some migrants began to re-evaluate their future prospects in the country. Overall, however, the community continued to establish itself in Brazilian commerce, to enjoy both the support and respect of leading Brazilian figures, and to have access to such things as Japanese-language newspapers, books and film. Migrant Japanese, therefore, had reason to believe that a place remained for them in modernising Brazil and that they had the organisation, adaptability and strength of endurance to navigate any short-term difficulties.