Marcia Gwaltney

Memories of 50 Years in Brazil Marcia Gwaltney

Immerse yourself in the history of Japanese immigration in the mid-1930s through the saga of the Ohira family who arrived in Brazil before World War II, with the goal of achieving financial success and returning to their hometown in Japan. See how their dreams changed with the difficulties that they had to face, but together as a family and as members of the Cotia Agricultural Cooperative they survived the Post-War period and settled in the Brazilian society without, however, losing their cultural values. The Japanese in Brazil contributed not only to the Brazilian economy, but also participated in promoting cultural exchange between Brazil and Japan through art, music, theater and dance. Currently, Brazil is home to the largest population of Japanese origin outside Japan, with around 1.5 million Nikkei (a term used to describe the Japanese and their descendants).