Performance of Japanese Education Dissemination Society in Brazil in Santos and Ribeira Valley

Abstract

The present article is part of a thesis still in progress with prevision to be concluded in the middle of 2016 and intends to analysis the impact of the presence of Japanese Teaching Diffusion Society in Brazil in the education in the region of Baixada Santista and Vale do Ribeira on the first half of XX century. It is known, regarding the bibliography about the subject, that the Japanese immigration was recognized for its strong esteem with the education. The construction of schools was a common providence for the Japaneses since it simbolized the progress and the possibility of education for the younger generations. It was not different in Baixada Santista and Vale do Ribeira, seacoast and southern region of São Paulo state where we can find many schools built with the effort of the Japanese settlers. From the decade of 1920 on the government of Japan started supporting directly the Japanese-Brazilian education by the Japanese Consulate, creating for this the Japanese Teaching Diffusion Society in Brazil. Therefore, it is possible to question how far has this institution interfered in the performance of schools created by Japanese immigrants? Which was its impact in the educational everyday of the Japanese colonies at their respective schools? What was its real function as institution linked to the Japanese education in Brazil? To answer the questions above the research made use of some featured references, such as Tomoo Handa, Arlinda Rocha Nogueira, Zeila de Brito Fabri Demartini, Hiroshi Saito, among others. Supported in the bibliography, the research collected printed documental sources as photographs, school books, time books produced by the colony, etc., besides research of Oral History fulfilled since 2008 with former students and people who had some close relation with Japanese colonies. The study observed the Japanese Teaching Diffusion Society in Brazil was crucial to centralize the Japanese Teaching, facilitating both the sending and qualification of teachers, dispatching didactical material and providing financial support to schools. On the other hand the institution was straight target of nationalist actions of Getúlio Vargas’ totalitarian state during the New State (1937), being forced to cease its activities towards to Japanese schools