Japanese emigration began with the Meiji Restoration in 1868. The hardships and realities faced by Japanese people who crossed the ocean in search of work and farmland have rarely been discussed. We trace the origins of international cooperation through the history of JICA, which has long supported emigration and continues to foster ties with Japanese-descendant communities today.
Japanese immigrants disembarking at the Port of Santos, Brazil (Courtesy of the JICA Yokohama Overseas Migration Museum)
Special Exhibition Conveys History and the Present at the Overseas Emigration Museum
“The history of immigration is not merely a story of the past; it is a living legacy that continues to this day. Our generation will take up the baton of trust passed down by our predecessors and, as partners in building international cooperation across all fields—including healthcare, disaster prevention, and education—we will pass this legacy on to the next generation.”
On June 23, at the opening ceremony for the special exhibition “The Origins of Japanese Emigration and Co-creation: Postwar Emigrants and JICA—Facing Challenges Together,” which began at the JICA Yokohama Overseas Migration Museum in Yokohama, Mario Masayuki Toyotoshi, who is of Japanese descent, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the special exhibition “The Origins of Japanese Emigration and Co-Creation: Postwar Emigrants and JICA—Facing Challenges Together,” which began on June 23 at the JICA Yokohama Overseas Migration Museum in Yokohama City. His remarks were met with applause from the assembled ambassadors from various countries.
Mario Masayuki Toyotosi, Ambassador of Paraguay to Japan, delivering remarks at the opening ceremony
This special exhibition, which runs through November 1, primarily showcases the history and achievements of postwar migration through photographs and other exhibits. In addition to large display panels, the exhibition features actual items such as pasta and Japanese rice produced by people of Japanese descent in Bolivia, and visitors were intently studying these valuable materials with great interest.
Director So Tsuboi spoke about the highlights and objectives of the exhibition: “Given that cultures and environments vary from country to country, the history of migration—in which migrants have overcome difficulties, built trust on the ground, and achieved results—is a source of pride for us at JICA as well, and is the result of our collaborative efforts with the migrants themselves. I want as many people as possible to learn about this history.”
Visitors looking at the panels in the special exhibition
The History of Japanese Immigration, Beginning in Hawaii
Japanese emigration is generally considered to have begun in 1868 (Meiji 1)—two years after the ban on overseas travel (the Sakoku Edict) was lifted—when 153 people traveled to Hawaii to work on sugarcane plantations. Subsequently, many people emigrated to the United States, Canada, Mexico, Peru, and other countries.
Emigration to Brazil—which is currently home to the largest Japanese community—began in 1908, and June 18, the day the Kasado Maru arrived at the Port of Santos carrying 781 passengers, has been designated as “Overseas Emigration Day.” Although emigration was suspended during World War II due to travel and entry restrictions, it resumed in 1952 with the departure of 54 people bound for Brazil.
The original purpose of emigration was to address Japan’s population growth, shortage of farmland, and poverty. Particularly after World War II, as part of efforts to manage the influx of repatriates and the sharp rise in the birth rate, the government promoted overseas emigration as a national policy, and by the late 1950s, the number of emigrants peaked at around 16,000 per year.
Why Has JICA Encouraged Emigration Abroad?
Immigrants arriving in Brazil with luggage and bicycles loaded onto trucks; a Spanish class at a Japanese school in Paraguay (both images from the JICA Yokohama Overseas Migration Museum collection)
Starting in 1954, to address the growing number of people wishing to emigrate overseas, the Federation of Japanese Overseas Associations (Kaikyoren) and the Japan Overseas Emigration Promotion Corporation (Emigration Corporation) were established as organizations responsible for emigration programs. In addition to recruiting and screening prospective emigrants, providing loans for travel expenses, and assisting with settlement in their new locations, both organizations undertook a wide range of activities, including the purchase, development, and sale of land, as well as the development of settlement areas.
Subsequently, as the number of emigrants declined, the focus of the organization’s activities shifted to on-site support, including agricultural guidance, medical and educational services, and the improvement of living conditions. In 1963, the two organizations merged to form the Overseas Emigration Corporation, and in 1974, with the establishment of JICA (then known as the Japan International Cooperation Agency), its operations were taken over by JICA.
Even after JICA was established, overseas emigration programs continued, and the efforts accumulated over time have led to the current collaboration with Japanese-descendant communities. Manabu Ohara, a JICA International Cooperation Specialist (Cooperation with Nikkei Communities), explains the significance of this work: “Supporting immigrants contributed to the development of local Nikkei communities and economies. And our collaboration with these thriving Nikkei communities has evolved into international development cooperation.”
Manabu Ohara, JICA International Cooperation Specialist
From the 1960s onward, as living standards improved due to rapid economic growth, the need for emigration gradually diminished, and the government’s emigration program came to an end in 1993. The total number of emigrants to date stands at approximately 770,000 before World War II and approximately 260,000 after the war; the number of people of Japanese descent currently living in Central and South America totals approximately 3.1 million.
Reflecting on the significance of JICA’s support for Japanese emigration, Specialist Ohara remarked, “The history of Japanese emigration has evolved over time. The focus shifted from simply sending people abroad to helping them settle in their new homes, and today, emigrants and their descendants—people of Japanese descent—have become bridges to Japan and key players in international cooperation. JICA has walked side by side with these emigrants,” he reflected with deep emotion.
From Barren Land to a World-Class Breadbasket
It is said that Japanese immigrants endured unimaginable hardships, including language and cultural barriers, racial discrimination, and harsh living conditions. During World War II, they also suffered persecution, including forced internment. Nevertheless, undeterred and relying on their innate diligence, they earned the trust of the local community and built a community of their own while establishing Japanese language schools and hospitals. Here, I would like to share an episode that is essential to understanding this history: the agricultural development of the Cerrado region in Brazil.
The Cerrado before development. In the center is a technician collecting soil samples (courtesy of the Japan-Brazil Cerrado Development Corporation [CAMPO]).
In the inland midwestern region of Brazil, a vast “barren zone” stretched out, covering an area 5.5 times the size of Japan. Known as the “Cerrado,” this savanna consists of strongly acidic, nutrient-poor soil unsuitable for agriculture and has long been described as “land that no one would want, not even as an inheritance.”
However, after 1960, when the capital was relocated to Brasília, land development became a major issue, and the Brazilian government sought assistance from Japan, which possessed advanced agricultural technology. Japan, for its part, was also facing an urgent need to diversify its import sources following the U.S. announcement in 1973 of a ban on soybean exports. Following a visit by then-Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka in 1974, an agreement was reached on agricultural cooperation, and the Japan-Brazil public-private partnership project “PRODECER” was launched. JICA played a central role in this initiative.
For nearly 20 years, Japan provided cooperation to the project in the areas of technology, funding, and human resources. By applying fertilizers such as lime and phosphorus, the project improved acidic soil and transformed barren red soil into farmland. New varieties of crops, such as soybeans, were developed to suit tropical conditions; large-scale, mechanized farming was promoted to take advantage of the vast land; and infrastructure, including roads and warehouses, was developed. More than 100 Japanese experts were dispatched to the field, and 80 Brazilian trainees were accepted to cultivate research talent. The project involved 717 settler households, covered an area of 345,000 hectares, and had a total budget of 68.4 billion yen. The key to its success was the adaptation of soil improvement and agricultural technologies to local conditions, which were put into practical use through collaboration between JICA, Japanese-Brazilian farmers, and Brazilian research institutions.
The Cerrado, which has transformed into one of the world’s leading breadbaskets (Photo by Yutaka Hongo, former JICA staff member)
Although PRODECER came to an end in 2001, the Cerrado has been transformed into a major breadbasket region that accounts for 60 percent of the country’s agricultural output. Brazil became the world’s largest exporter of soybeans and the second-largest exporter of corn. In 2006, it was awarded the “World Food Prize”—often referred to as the Nobel Prize of agriculture—for achieving “the greatest feat in the history of 20th-century agriculture.”
It was the local Japanese-Brazilians who paved the way for this “Cerrado Miracle” and forged a connection between Japan and Brazil. Highly skilled Japanese-Brazilian farmers settled in the Cerrado, cleared new farmland, and played a central role in disseminating production techniques and implementing crop management practices. Leveraging their organizational skills, they established agricultural cooperatives and, fluent in both Japanese and Portuguese, served as a bridge between Japan and Brazil.
Japanese Immigrants Serve as a Bridge Between Japan and the Rest of the World
JICA’s history of supporting overseas migration is linked to the spirit of international cooperation that continues to this day. Support for Japanese people crossing the seas eventually evolved into assistance for settling in their destination countries, and the migrants who received that support in turn became bridges connecting Japan and their host countries. The dissemination of agricultural technology and improvements in healthcare and education also contribute to the development of local communities. Japanese-descendant communities have become an important human network for Japan and have evolved into a form of soft power that underpins positive diplomatic relations.
Director Tsuboi stated, “The Japanese-American community is now a partner in co-creation and collaboration, working together to improve the society and economy of each country, and we can build diplomatic and friendly relations based on that trust. “Beyond the boundaries of a single country or region, we also have the capacity to tackle global challenges such as food security, healthcare, and environmental issues. Through exchanges among the younger generation, I hope to help build a society that respects the diversity of our roots,” he said, outlining his vision.
People of Japanese descent, who have roots in Japan and are active in their respective local communities, will continue to play a vital role in connecting Japan with other countries.
© Source JICA