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C onn ect i ng C u ltu r es T hrough F am i ly and F ood

More thanamillionhave chosen to settle in Brazil, and the two coun- tries shareadeephistoryof cultural and economic exchange. Because of those ties, Brazilians also comprise the largest non-Asian ethnic group living in Japan. Each year, there are several Japanese festivals held in Brazil, and the Brazilian Asakusa SambaCarnival is oneof thebiggest summer festivals in Tokyo. In Peru, a man of Japanese descent named

Alberto Fujimori rose to become president. Another large group is in the United States, with major commu- nities in New York City, California, Washington State, and Oregon. Jap- anesepeoplehaveenduredprejudice andhardshipinAmerica—especially duringWorldWarII,whentheUnited States and Japan fought on opposite sides—but they have survived and thriveddespite thosecircumstances.

Though Japanese immigration numbers are not as high as some other groups, those who come have found places to live together.