I've been in Japan and there is a small Dominican community there, mostly made up of Nikkeis( descendants of Japanese immigrants that went to D.R in the 1950's) also some " netos" (the average Dominican of colonial descent, ex: Mulattoes, Blacks) that are married to the Nikkeis and went there with them. Also the ones at the different U.S military bases and the smallest are just plain civilians.
When Leonel Fernandez went there in the late 90's(don't rememebr the year), it was the first time that a Dominican president ever visited Japan,and he got very surprised with the huge welcome that he received. The Dominican Nikkeis were very happy, they always have D.R in their hearts,and talk that famous Dominican spanish " cual e la vaina loco ! no me salte con ese tigueraje !!" jajaja.
Even thou they have Japanese blood, the natives of Japan consider them " gaijin" or " outsiders". The netos are even more " foreign" because they don't even look Japanese, so the neto is the one usually getting called " gaijin". The Nikkeis don't have any Japanese culture, their culture is Dominican. They have Spanish first names, cook Dominican food and are Catholics or other form of Christianity. Unlike Europe, Japan is still very close to foreigners, so there is lots of discrimination against foreigners, specially those from Third World countries, but things are getting better in the past 10
years, because there are more foreigners than ever.
The majority of Latinos in Japan are Brazilians, followed by Peruvians, who are the largest Spanish-speaking block in Japan. Thus the Spanish language newspapers overthere are heavy with Peruvian news and topics. Peru is the dominant Hispanic culture there,so everybody almost everything you find there is " Peruvian oriented". Nevertheless, Latinos-Nikkeis and netos of all differet nationalities get together with each other and live peacefully, helping each others out.
There are a few " neto" Dominicans that have been successful there. I've heard that the owner of the famous " salsa caribe club" in Tokyo is Dominican. There is one that has a club in Fukuoka, I don't remember the name. But Latin clubs have been popping out everywhere overthere,and some are Dominican -owned. In Tokyo area alone there are about 15 Latin Clubs. merengue and bachata are huge in Japan ! D.R is alot well known now because of the prominence of Dominican baseball players in the U.S and Japan. Japan is the second largest baseball market in the world after the U.S, so there are alot of Dominican baseball players making lots of money there. It is like a stepping stope to go to American MLB. I rememeber of Checo, who was a pitcher for the Hiroshima Carps,now he plays in the U.S I think.
There are some musical bands there playing for bars and clubs, one is Jose Duluc, he went to Osaka like in '99 and 2000, and stayed there ever since. He was one of the ones that made that famous Barcelo commercial back in the 80's with " chivo de la loma, quien ha vito un chivo haciendo maroma". He also was involved in producing the " Dominican root music cd" with palos, salve, congos, etc. Getting involved in rescuing deep-rooted afro-dominican music almost getting lost in the countryside and everywhere. I think he is one of the few if not the only one spreading Dominican music knowledge to the Japanese. There are also some salsa, merengue and bachata dance teachers around.
ok, sayounara
When Leonel Fernandez went there in the late 90's(don't rememebr the year), it was the first time that a Dominican president ever visited Japan,and he got very surprised with the huge welcome that he received. The Dominican Nikkeis were very happy, they always have D.R in their hearts,and talk that famous Dominican spanish " cual e la vaina loco ! no me salte con ese tigueraje !!" jajaja.
Even thou they have Japanese blood, the natives of Japan consider them " gaijin" or " outsiders". The netos are even more " foreign" because they don't even look Japanese, so the neto is the one usually getting called " gaijin". The Nikkeis don't have any Japanese culture, their culture is Dominican. They have Spanish first names, cook Dominican food and are Catholics or other form of Christianity. Unlike Europe, Japan is still very close to foreigners, so there is lots of discrimination against foreigners, specially those from Third World countries, but things are getting better in the past 10
years, because there are more foreigners than ever.
The majority of Latinos in Japan are Brazilians, followed by Peruvians, who are the largest Spanish-speaking block in Japan. Thus the Spanish language newspapers overthere are heavy with Peruvian news and topics. Peru is the dominant Hispanic culture there,so everybody almost everything you find there is " Peruvian oriented". Nevertheless, Latinos-Nikkeis and netos of all differet nationalities get together with each other and live peacefully, helping each others out.
There are a few " neto" Dominicans that have been successful there. I've heard that the owner of the famous " salsa caribe club" in Tokyo is Dominican. There is one that has a club in Fukuoka, I don't remember the name. But Latin clubs have been popping out everywhere overthere,and some are Dominican -owned. In Tokyo area alone there are about 15 Latin Clubs. merengue and bachata are huge in Japan ! D.R is alot well known now because of the prominence of Dominican baseball players in the U.S and Japan. Japan is the second largest baseball market in the world after the U.S, so there are alot of Dominican baseball players making lots of money there. It is like a stepping stope to go to American MLB. I rememeber of Checo, who was a pitcher for the Hiroshima Carps,now he plays in the U.S I think.
There are some musical bands there playing for bars and clubs, one is Jose Duluc, he went to Osaka like in '99 and 2000, and stayed there ever since. He was one of the ones that made that famous Barcelo commercial back in the 80's with " chivo de la loma, quien ha vito un chivo haciendo maroma". He also was involved in producing the " Dominican root music cd" with palos, salve, congos, etc. Getting involved in rescuing deep-rooted afro-dominican music almost getting lost in the countryside and everywhere. I think he is one of the few if not the only one spreading Dominican music knowledge to the Japanese. There are also some salsa, merengue and bachata dance teachers around.
ok, sayounara