Japanese-Brazilian Association

Japanese Presence In Belém

There is large ammount of Japanese ex-patriots (nikei) in Belém. There is even a Japanese-Brazilian Cultural Association in Belém. APANB (Associação Pan-Amazônia Nipo-Brasileira) is on 14 de Abril in between Jose Malcher and Magahlés Barata, very close to Yamada Plazz. The association offers Japanese language classes, a Japanese language library,  Japanese Drum (taiko) workshops, dance lessons, origami, lesson, and many more opportunities to learn about Japanese culture. IT is great to see how the Japanese nikei have intergrated into Belém while at the same time maintaining their own culture and identity.

Here are two kanjis that are read from right to left AI (love) and GO (language). It can therefore be read as, "love for language".

These are some very intricate examples of orgiami made at APANB. If you would like some more information about the asscoication please check out their webpage - http://apanb.org.br/blog/

Patrick

Um Tóró!!!

Being in the Amazon, Belém has a tropical rainforest climate and it rains all 12 months of the year here; in fact the city has no true dry season. There is even a joke amongst the people of Belém: “No inverno chove o dia entero. No verão todos os dias chove.” (In the winter it rains all day. It the summer it rains every day.) Consequently, there are a variety of words for different kinds of rain. A very Paraense word (word from the state of Pará) is um tóró - a very heavy rain. In my experience these torós happen very suddenly and without warning. Here you can see a small river that formed after only a few minutes of rain!

Patrick