Ryukyuans in Brazil

Ryukyuans in Brazil
Total population
170,000
Languages
Brazilian Portuguese, Ryukyuan languages, Japanese
Religion
Catholicism, Ryukyuan religion, Bouddhism, Shintoism, Irreligion
Related ethnic groups
Ryukyuan people, Japanese Brazilians

The Ryukyuans in Brazil are Brazilian nationals of Ryukyuan descent.

History

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Many people were struggling economically in the Ryukyu Islands during the late 1800s and early 1900s. As a result, many Ryukyuans emigrated elsewhere to places such as Brazil, Peru, Hawaii and mainland Japan.[1][2]

On June 18, 1908, the first migrants from Japan arrived at the port of Santos in São Paulo. Half of these migrants were Okinawans.[3][4] Immigration from the Ryukyu Islands to Brazil would continue in the following years.

Demographics

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Ryukyuans in Brazil make up 9.4% (170,000) of the entire Brazilian Nikkei community (1,600,000), despite Ryukyuans making up only 1% of Japan's total population.[3] The Nikkei communities in neighboring Peru and Argentina are majority Ryukyuan-descended.[3]

The majority of Ryukyuans in South America specifically belong to the Okinawan subgroup.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Fukasawa, Masayuki (18 August 2015). "Immigration—Missing Link in Japanese History: Why Are There So Many Okinawan Immigrants? – Part 1". Discover Nikkei. Translated by Mina Otsuka. Archived from the original on 29 August 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  2. ^ Mitchell, Jon (22 October 2016). "Welcome home, Okinawa". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on 24 October 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "A little corner of Brazil that is forever Okinawa". BBC News. 4 February 2018. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  4. ^ Kanno, Maurício (8 May 2008). "Okinawanos são 10% dos nikkeis no Brasil" [Okinawans make up 10% of Nikkei in Brazil]. Folha de S.Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 22 July 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2024.