Coffee with Sensei

Thoughts and comments by Sensei Jorge Kishkawa

19-Jun-2018

110 Years of Japanese Immigration - June 18, 2018

This weekend at Gashuku held at Coopecotia I was approached by a notable Softball teacher from Atibaia.
She was thrilled to hear of my presence and that there were still descendants of Japanese willing to preserve our culture despite these rough times.
Immigration 110 Years. Niten 25 Years.
We can say that Niten is already part of this great story, isn´t it ???

Arigato to all!

"Immigration began with Kasato Maru ship with 781 Japanese. Today, in Brazil, we have the largest Japanese community outside of Japan.

I want to honor all immigrants who have had the courage to leave their own country and come to such a distant place, with strange habits, new foods, and way of life so different.

To honor, especially, my family, who came in the 60"s. They had a very difficult life, with many sacrifices, many tears, a lot of famine, many desperations, but they never gave up.

They practiced TAN REN* in their daily lives. They overcame each obstacle with much effort, with great effort. And, it"s that courage, it"s this TAN REN that I seek. It is in the example of my family that I find strength, determination to face all the difficulties that life imposes on us.

Today, part of my family is returning to Japan, as Brazilian immigrants trying to live a better life in Japan. It is with great sadness that I see this exodus because it is giving up a country that was built by immigrants of all races. They are giving up all the effort and struggle that have been conquered by our ancestors ... It"s a shame ...

I see in Sensei, in NITEN, a hope ... There is a gigantic effort from Sensei, in bringing the best of the Japanese culture, adapting to the Brazilian way of life.

I see in Sensei the TAN REN of the ancient ancestors, and I respect him deeply for giving us this example.