Japanese Cubans

Japanese Cuban
Japonés Cubano

Regions with significant populations
Havana
Languages
Cuban Spanish , Japanese
Religion
Mahayana Buddhism, Roman Catholic, Shinto
Related ethnic groups
Chinese Cuban, Japanese Japanese Dominican

Japanese Cuban (Spanish: Japonés Cubano, Japanese: Nikkei Kubajin), is a Cuban person of Japanese descent.

History

The group of Japanese Cubans are called Nikkei. The start of Japanese immigration to Cuba was when there was an noteworthy "peak" in immigration. In 1915, it was estimated that there were fewer than 60 Japanese living in Cuba. They established an agricultural society in Carmelina. Later in 1916, 262 Japanese arrived. Most decided to get a job by harvesting cane. But the conditions were very hard for the Japanese, which made some return to Japan. Some made it to the Isle of Youth, where some families established fruit and vegetable farms. In 1926, immigration to Cuba slowed down. But in 1943, 1,200 Japanese immigratd to Cuba. But after WWII some have left again to Japan. It was due to the 1959 revolution, and the Cuban revolution. On December 9, 1941, a few days after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, President Batista declared war on Japan, along with its fascist allies, Germany and Italy. A few days until December 12, all Japanese descendants living in Cuba were declared "enemy aliens". Most Japanese Cubans were seized. There was also 114 Germans, and 13 Italians. Later, over 6,000 Germans, Italians, or Japanese ancestry were deported to the United States. Some found new jobs in the country they arrived. Some worked as cooks, servants, and other forms of support. The prisoners were not released when the war ended. The last group was released on March 1946; over six months after Japan surrendered. After WWII, the friendship between the two countries provided women to built a new community.

Today it is estimated that 1,300 Japanese live in Cuba, they make up 0.01% of the population. In 2008, the Japanese government conferred the Order of the Rising Sun with gold and silver rays on Francisco Shinichi Miyasaka Machida in recognition of his contribution to the welfare of the descendants of Japanese emigrants in Cuba.

Languages

Most Japanese Cubans speak Spanish, along with their native language. While those with a higher education speak English.

Religion

Most Japanese Cubans are Roman Catholic, while the rest are Buddhists.

References

• Masterson, Daniel M and Sayaka Funada-Classen. (2003). The Japanese in Latin America. Urbana: University of Illinois Press. 10-ISBN 0-252-07144-1; 13-ISBN 978-0-252-07144-7

External links

• Japanese migrants and their descendants - Cuba
• Japanese and Okinawans in Cuba