Liberdade - Japan in São Paulo, São Paulo

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Liberdade is the Japaneese neightborhood in Sao Paolu, yes I´ve said Japaneese and not Chineese. Many Japaneese people came to Brazil after the 2WW, and many of them stablished in Sao Paulo.
It´s a nice place to visit, it´s like a little part of Japan in the huge Brazil. The shops, the restaurants, the people, everything reminds Asia here.
There is a market next to Liberdade metro entrance on sunday mornings where you can taste japaneese food in a good prize or buy asian handmade souvenirs.

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.

Aunt Sandra, my cousin isabel, My Aunt Mocinha (Mercedez) and my Mother Stella having fun in our little japonese world!

Liberdade is cool and you should see it for yourself!;)

September 2004

Every Sunday there are markets in Praca da Republica and Praca da Liberdade. It was a fun way to meet locals.

Visit Libertade District - Bairro da Libertade
This colourful distric reflects much of the Japanese culture introduced by millions of immigrants.