Henrique Minatogawa
@HenriqueHenrique Minatogawa is a freelance journalist and photographer, Brazilian third generation Japanese descendant. His family origins are Okinawa, Nagasaki and Nara prefectures. In 2007, he was granted a scholarship Kenpi Kenshu in Nara prefecture. In Brazil, has been working in the coverage of events related to Japanese culture. (Photo: Henrique Minatogawa)
Updated July 2020
Stories from This Author
Where I was on March 11, 2011
March 25, 2015 • Henrique Minatogawa
In March 2011, it was only a month ago that it had begun working on a publishing company focused on Japanese culture. My job was to take care of a site whose content was related to that theme. At that March 11, in the morning of Brazil, I heard on the radio that a strong earthquake had happened in Japan. Although earthquakes occur regularly in the country, by the tone of the news, I realized that it had been much more …
Students Talk About Succeeding the Noryoku Shiken and the Study of Japanese Language
Feb. 25, 2015 • Henrique Minatogawa
For the Japanese language students in Brazil, the beginning of the year is usually the time to wait for the result of the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT or Nihongo Noryoku Shiken). In the country, the exam takes place in early December; the results usually arrive by mail in late January. It does not really take much time, but the report is awaited with much anxiety by the applicants. There is even a saying that “the result of Noryoku Shiken arrives …
Nikkei Youth Associations in Brazil: ABEUNI
Jan. 21, 2015 • Henrique Minatogawa
Among the youth associations created under the Nikkei initiative in Brazil, one of the most solid is ABEUNI (Portuguese acronym for Beneficent Universitary Alliance of Sao Paulo). In 2014, it had completed 30 years in operation. “Our mission is to improve the population’s welfare through humanized care, promoting health, education, and citizenship combined with personal and social development of the volunteers,” explains Cecilia Ikedo, third generation Nikkei, data analyst, and current president. The association was created from ABENIBRA (Portuguese acronym …
What is that?
Dec. 19, 2014 • Henrique Minatogawa
I was not raised in a family which followed the strict Japanese traditions. When I was a kid, we spoke in Portuguese almost all the time. In Japanese, only a few greetings, some verbs, and names of food, places, and objects. It was all very natural for me. So natural that I didn't realize other people may not understand. The first confusion that I recall happened in 1986, when I was in the first year of elementary school, 6 years …
Nikkei Associations: Bunkyo Youth Commission
Nov. 27, 2014 • Henrique Minatogawa
The Comissao de Jovens do Bunkyo (CJB, Bunkyo Youth Commission) is a section of the Sociedade Brasileira de Cultura Japonesa e Assistência Social – Bunkyo (Brazilian Society of Japanese Culture and Social Assistance), an entity that promotes Japanese culture in Brazil, whose head office is located at Liberdade district, São Paulo. Founded in February 1997, named Seinen Bunkyo at that time, CJB has gone through some name changes but always maintaining its primary goal: to preserve and spread Japanese culture. …
TV With Grandpa
Oct. 17, 2014 • Henrique Minatogawa
My maternal grandfather was born in Japan, in Nagasaki prefecture. In Brazil, he lived in the countryside, very far away from my home in Sao Paulo. When we travelled to visit him (in the ’80s and ’90s), the planning always included a stop to buy Japanese language newspapers and some VHS tapes. At that time, those tapes were the only way to watch Japanese programs in Brazil. There was no internet as we know it today, and cable TV was …
Nipo-Brazilian radio waves
Sept. 29, 2014 • Henrique Minatogawa
In Brazil, currently, there are two radio broadcasters dedicated to Eastern culture, especially Japanese. Rádio Nikkey is the oldest of them, operating for more than 20 years. Nowadays, the program is broadcasted as part of Rádio Imprensa and on the internet. More recent, Rádio Banzai was called Rádio Fenix in its early days in 2005. Officially bearing its current name, the station has been broadcasting since 2007, always on the internet. Brazilians of all origins The programming of Rádio Nikkey …
Ramen for Lunch in São Paulo
Sept. 9, 2014 • Henrique Minatogawa
Starting from the mid-2000s, with the increasing success of Japanese anime, manga, soap operas, and movies in Brazil, a certain food began to draw the audience’s attention. It is a steamy broth involving noodles and some other ingredients: ramen. The Liberdade district, in São Paulo, is a great concentration of Japanese restaurants. Currently, there are three shops whose specialty is ramen. Strong seasoning We visited the newest one, called Ramen Ya, which opened in February 2014, to know a little about …
The Meaning of 'J.'
Aug. 18, 2014 • Henrique Minatogawa
When I was a child, I used to think my name was too long. So, I shortened it by writing “Henrique J. Minatogawa.” Even now, I keep that habit. My friends frequently ask: what does the “J.” mean? It reminds me of that Simpsons episode in which Homer is trying to discover his middle name. When I answer it is “José,” some do not believe me. I have to show my ID to prove it. “I thought it was Jun,” most …
Nikkei actors in Brazil: Japanese descendants share experience in the profession
July 14, 2014 • Henrique Minatogawa
During the early years of Japanese immigration in Brazil, Japanese workers dedicated themselves to activities related to agriculture. Then, branching out into trade and other jobs. Nowadays, Japanese and their descendants (called Nikkei) are in almost all working fields. Although in small numbers, today, it is possible to see them on TV, cinema, and theater. Family concerns “Since I always had a conscious attitude in what I do, they always encouraged my decisions. However, the concern about money and the …
