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JAPANESE - in Peru
The largest immigrant ethnic group in Peru is descended from the Japanese (Nikkei). This is the second largest enclave of Japanese in South America next to Brazil. While only being about 50,000 in total they have made a substantial impact on the economic and cultural diversity of Peru. They also as other groups in Peruvian society suffered substantially from overt and subversive discrimination.
In 1899, the Japanese government
was concerned with over population and began a campaign to send Japanese to
different parts of the world. This sponsored migration was also designed to help
acquire foreign capital and to provide for territorial expansion. The Japanese
participants were lured with the promise of wealth and the ability to return
after four years with savings. Many of the participants signed on because of
lack of opportunity and poverty in their homeland. 790 Japanese arrived in 1899
to work the sugar and cotton plantations. A significant number of them were from
Okinawa. The Peruvians had an interest in the Japanese immigrants in that large
plantation operators had a shortage of labor and had difficulty in recruiting
Indians from the Sierra to work. Over the next forty years there were about
33,000 that migrated to Peru. As many would discover the dream of acquiring
wealth did not materialize and most of the Japanese decided to remain in Peru
after their contract expired. Because there were minimal opportunities to
gaining land the migrants made their way to urban areas, such as Lima. The
migration continued until just prior to WWII. Many of the early migrants after
leaving the plantations worked as domestic servants and street vendors. Then a
number of the Japanese began barbershops (1904), which required little capital
and would soon dominate the industry within a number of years. There were also a
number of the immigrants who after saving capital opened up small stores and
food stands. By 1930 over half of
Japanese immigrants and now descendants were involved in small business, such as
watch repair shops.
Along
with their industriousness and success there continues to be racism directed
towards the Japanese-Peruvians. This is has especially been the case since
Fujimori born of Japanese parents left office as president in disgrace. In 1940
there was a riot instigated by anti Japanese-Peruvian sentiment, which took ten
lives and injured hundreds. There also was substantial loss of residences and
businesses as the police stood by and did not intervene. It is believed by some
historians that much of the anti-Japanese -Peruvian feelings came from U.S.
efforts to discredit anyone of Japanese descent of being involved with Japanese
forces in WWII. Then, after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, the Peruvian
government really had their way with the Japanese in Peru. They confiscated
their property 1,771 of the immigrants and individuals of Japanese descent into
custody and shipped them off to the U.S. where they were put into custody in
Texas. The U.S. compensated Peru with a payment in the millions of dollars. Only
76 of the detainees were allowed to return to Peru. Most of the detainees ended
up in Japan or the U.S.
The Japanese in
Peru today have a tremendous strength in their community organizations of which
there are at least seventy associations. They are basically a closed society and
keep a low profile. There is tremendous pride in the cultural heritage and
significant efforts in preserving this with education and the arts among those
of Japanese ancestry. Social and economic ties remain strong with Japan. The
Peruvian stereotypes of the Japanese descendants are of hardworking, honorable
and trustworthy individuals.
By Nicholas Crowder / copyright 2004/ May not be
retransmitted or copied without prior written consent. Furthermore, it may not
be used for commercial purposes without prior written consent from Nicholas
Crowder - crowdpub@mindspring.com