Japanese Venezuelans

Japanese Venezuelan
Japonés Venezolano

Total population
1,500
Regions with significant populations
Caracas, Puerto La Cruz
Languages
Spanish, Japanese, English
Religion
Roman Catholicism and Buddhism
Related ethnic groups
Japanese diaspora, Japanese Americans, Japanese Canadians, Japanese Mexicans, Japanese Paraguayans, Japanese Peruvians, Japanese Brazilians

Japanese Venezuelans (Spanish: Japonés Venezolano, Japanese: 日系ベネズエラ人 Nikkei Benezuerajin) are Venezuelan citizens who have full or partial Japanese ancestry. The first wave of Japanese came to Venezuela on 1931.

Language

Most Japanese Venezuelans only speak Spanish. Only a selected number can speak Japanese, while those with higher education speak English. There are even a number of Japanese Venezuelan schools that offer English-language teaching to the recent Japanese residents.

Religion

The majority of Japanese Venezuelans are Roman Catholic Christians, while the rest are Buddhists.

Prominent Japanese Venezuelans

• Alexander Cabrera Suzuki, baseball player; Japanese Venezuelan
• Fred Armisen, comedian; Japanese Venezuelan
• Seiko Ishikawa, Diplomat; Japanese Venezuelan
• Seijiro Iyazawa, trader
• Hana Kobayashi, singer
• Takako Kodani de Bracho; painter and sculptor
• Sadao Muraki, pianist
• Richard Obuchi, economist
• Kaori F. Yonekura, filmaker
• Yuzo Yonekura, trader
• Henry Zakka, actor

References

• Masterson, Daniel M. and Sayaka Funada-Classen. (2004), The Japanese in Latin America: The Asian American Experience. Urbana, Illinois: University of Illinois Press. ISBN 978-0-252-07144-7; OCLC 253466232
• La inmigración japónesa en Venezuela (1928-2008). (The Japanese immigration in Venezuela. 1928-2008)