Liberdade - Japan in São Paulo, São Paulo

Well not all that strange really.
Here you can see a female and a male plant together,if you plant just one of them it dies of lonelines,planted together they thrive,romantic don`t you think so ??

I found this plant at a delicatessen in Sao Paulo the owner was pleased I showed such a great interest at his special plant.
I have been informed the name of this plant is ``Happines plant``a good name.

Tanabata Matsuri (Stars Festival), usually every first weekend of July at Liberdade.

Next one: July 10 and July 11, 2004

It's a cultural festival that celebrates love and hope, encouraging peace. Tanabata Matsuri celebrates the legend of the Cowherd Star (Altair) and Weaver Star (Vega). The lovers, separated by the Milky Way, are allowed to meet just once a year - on the seventh day of the seventh month (read more above in More Info). Choose colored pieces of paper according to your wishes (you can buy them there. Each color has a meaning, red is for passion, white is for peace, yellow is for money, etc), write them down and tie the papers in bamboo branches on the spot. According to the legend, all the wishes will come true when the stars meet (the bamboo branches are burned symbolically later on). So far, all my wishes came true! Just coincidence?

The signs are written in japonese, the local news are in japonese, all you can buy are japonese products, the food is japonese! Other city has CHINATOWNS, but in Brazil we have JAPANTOWNS...The Japonese are millions here, and one of the things I love doing in São Paulo is going to Liberdade. I usually go with my relatives and friends, but even alone, it is a personal law, everytime I go to Sampa...Liberdade is my stop!;)

Here you can see my cousin Isabel, she is sooooo sweet, myself, happy to eb in São Paulo; Marcio Omatsu happy to be in a place with so much japonese, he liked so much that now he is living in Nagoya, Japan and my fantastic Aunt Sandra.

From centre, go to the Japanese neighbourhood of Liberdade, then down to vila Mariana, Parque do Ibirapuera perhaps back up to the Avenida Paulista!

You'll get the flavour of how diverse this metropolis is!

Liberdade is considered as a little part of Japan. Here you can find the biggest Japanese community outside Japan. The streets are decorated with lanterns welcoming visitors. It's a great place for Asian food lovers. Every Sunday there is an open market. Every now and then, there are special events organized by Japanese immigrants.

Most places in the world have their version of 'Chinatown' but Sao Paulo has the largest Japanese population outside Japan. Funny to hear someone who looks Japanese speak Brazilian but they are here in great numbers. You can pick up seaweed to make sushi and the rice and wasabi to go with it.

You have to see Liberdade on Sunday!!! The market around the main square just in front of the subway station is one of the highlights in Sao Paulo! Have you tasted the bean candies? No??? Come on!!!!

This is the epicenter of japanese culture in Sao Paulo. Every Sunday there is a market with japanese food and handicraft.