With a population of approximately 210,000 Brazilians, Japan ranks as the third most popular destination for Brazilian immigrants, after the United States and Portugal. The migratory relationship between the two countries, however, is not a recent one: the process of Japanese immigration that began in 1908 marked the starting point for the emergence of the world’s largest Nikkei community, established in Brazil.
Beginning in the 1980s, due to labor shortages in Japan and economic hardship in Brazil, the migration flow reversed direction, as descendants of Japanese immigrants returned to Japan as dekasseguis in search of better living conditions.
In 1990, an amendment to Japan’s Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act granted Japanese descendants the status of “Long-Term Resident” — a category distinct from the traditional work visa. This measure allowed Nikkei to reside in Japan for extended periods, engage in a wide range of activities, and facilitated the immigration of their spouses and family members.
With over three decades of history, the Brazilian community in Japan presents a diverse profile, comprising both Nikkei and non-Nikkei individuals, many of whom have chosen to settle permanently, transforming Japan — once viewed as a temporary destination — into their home.