Japanese-Brazilian families face serious challenge in communication

By Mariko Yasumoto

HAMAMATSU —

Monica Omura was at a loss when her 7-year-old son Masashi began ignoring her. It’s not that he became rebellious, but he just could not understand what his mother said to him in Portuguese—their native language.

‘‘I got freaked out when I realized he doesn’t understand our language,’’ the 25-year-old Omura said. The second-generation Japanese-Brazilian speaks little Japanese.

The two came to Japan in 2003. She has since been working at factories where Brazilians are most of her co-workers and where Japanese proficiency is not a requirement. The single parent has little time to learn the language either.

But Masashi has been immersed in a Japanese-speaking environment, studying at public school with Japanese classmates, and has had few opportunities to attain Portuguese proficiency to the level where he can express his feelings.

When Omura scolds Masashi, he can tell from her expression she is angry but hardly understands what she is angry about.

Such a linguistic gap between parents and their children with little knowledge of Portuguese has been plaguing the Japanese-Brazilian community in Japan, despite a common belief that Brazilian children’s inability in Japanese at public school and the resultant poor academic performances are their biggest headache.

In hopes of getting back a common language with Masashi, Omura enrolled him in a weekly yearlong Portuguese class run by Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture, a city in central Japan that is home to numerous manufacturing footholds of big corporations employing scores of foreign workers of Japanese descent.

The city launched the class centering on Portuguese writing and reading in 2007 amid mounting requests by local Japanese-Brazilian parents who worried about similar communication problems with their children and who simply hope their language and cultural values will be inherited, according to Keiko Tanaka, director general of the city’s support office for foreign children education.

‘‘If the kids remain illiterate in Portuguese, the language will unlikely be their tool of expression or thought,’’ Tanaka said. Over 100 Brazilian children are attending the lessons this year.

Masami Matsumoto, director general of Colegio Mundo de Alegria, a Hamamatsu-based private school for children from Brazil and Peru, has also seen many such Brazilian children among those who transferred to her school from public schools.

‘‘They have lost Portuguese skills and hardly understand abstract concepts in the language,’’ she said. ‘‘It’s hard for them to express small nuances of their feelings in Portuguese.’‘

Some educators point to the need for the parents to acquire Japanese-language ability. But even if the parents speak Japanese fluently, Portuguese is still necessary for their children, they say.

‘‘Portuguese will help them learn about their ancestors and develop their identities as Brazilians,’’ said Angelo Ishi, an associate professor in social science at Tokyo’s Musashi University who himself is a Japanese-Brazilian. ‘‘Without the language, they will grow up being unaware of problems facing their own community.’‘

Akira Kojima, an associate professor in psychology and education at Wako University in Tokyo, said, ‘‘When immigrant kids face challenges at public school due to their ethnicities, their mother tongues will play a significant role in keeping their self-esteem and sharing their feelings with compatriots suffering similar situations.’‘

One such example is Fernanda Agata, a 10-year-old Brazilian who was born in Japan. She recently transferred to Colegio Mundo de Alegria from public school, ‘‘because I hated some classmates calling me names and I want to learn Portuguese and broaden my future choices,’’ she said.

‘‘Research has shown that respect for one’s language and culture will lead to positive identity formation and positive learning experience,’’ said Keita Takayama, assistant education professor at the University of New England in Australia, a nation known for its advanced multicultural policy.

But the present public educational curriculum in Japan is not created to accept children from different cultures, experts say.

As an original system to help foreign children overcome linguistic handicaps and improve their academic abilities, Hamamatsu, which hosts Japan’s largest Japanese-Brazilian community, is sending bilingual teacher aides to schools in areas where foreign families are concentrated.

Mikiko Nairu Saito, an aid at Mizuho Elementary School in Hamamatsu, sits in mathematics classes to translate questions to Portuguese for children who cannot read Japanese or understand technical terms.

During lunchtime, one 12-year-old Brazilian student who speaks little Japanese came up to Saito and asked her in Portuguese to explain what is written in a Portuguese book. The girl, whose name the school declined to disclose, apparently cannot read Portuguese.

‘‘It’s hard to keep up with class and I may transfer to a Brazilian school after finishing the sixth grade,’’ she said.

According to Saito, the number of such so-called ‘‘semi-lingual’’ children who have not attained appropriate levels in either Portuguese or Japanese is substantial at public school.

‘‘These kids should focus on Portuguese acquisition first and improve their intellectual capacities in the language to avoid falling behind in both,’’ Matsumoto said. ‘‘The language focus should be shifted to Japanese over generations.’’ Students at her school are also required to take Japanese lessons daily.

Brazilians of Japanese ancestry began moving to Japan since an amendment to the immigration law was put into force in 1990 to allow Japanese descendants overseas to enter Japan on resident visas and to work with no limitations. Japan revised the law to make up for a labor shortage during the economic bubble.

A number of Brazilians have chosen to settle in Japan against their original plan of returning home after saving up a certain amount of money. Nearly 95,000 out of some 320,000 Japanese-Brazilian residents held permanent visas as of the end of last year.

Regardless of their intention of staying, however, Takayama said their decision will hinge on the nation’s economic condition and immigration policies, stressing the importance of their keeping in mind the possibility of someday going back to Brazil.

Masashi is among those hoping to stay. ‘‘I want to become an athlete in Japan,’’ he said. Reflecting his reluctance to return, he is unable to stay focused on the Portuguese lessons.

To motivate immigrant children to learn their languages, Takayama said, contacted by phone, ‘‘Teachers, schools, the communities, and the country as a whole should create an environment in which cultural and linguistic diversities are seen as a rich resource enhancing the quality of schooling and life in general.’‘

A year and a half after Masashi joined the class, ‘‘Our conversation is gradually getting back to normal,’’ Omura said.

› Login to comment

Latest 15 of 36 Total Comments Show All

KitsuneYoukai at 11:09 PM JST - 26th August

JoiceRojo...calm down there. Your solution is in an ideal world that these people do not live in. At their childrens early life if they can become bilingual that will be great. So, whatever they can manage to try and do this, I say go for it. However, if they plan on staying in Japan for a long time then the pimary language learned should be Japanese and the secondary Brazillian. Why? because that child will build strong relationships in Japan and may not want to go back to Brazil.
DanManjt at 12:35 AM JST - 27th August

I guess these "Japanese-Brazilians" are pretty much Brazilian.
cwhite at 05:40 AM JST - 27th August

why stop at bilingual, at age 7 you could be learning multiple languages far easier than any other time in your life. Many of my friends speak 4 or 5 languages and for a Japanese/Brazilian it should actually be much easier than a British or American kid. In the same situation I can see that many other children would benefit and speak at least Portuguese, Spanish, French, English and Japanese (possibly more). What a waste of a great opportunity to expand ones knowledge. It all comes down to finding the best way to get your kid to find their own interest in different languages.
namabiru4me at 08:41 AM JST - 27th August

I like this topic and it is interesting to read other people's comments about a bilingual household.

I would like to make one additional point...My wife is THE KEY to my kids speaking English at home. We had an agreement before having kids that it would be English Only at home(as much as possible) for the kid's sake. If she spoke mostly Japanese to them, I am sure their ability would be much lower; English comprehension, but answering in Japanese (like so many friend's kids I know).

DS...good comments! :-)

I know a guy in Mexico, his wife is Japanese. The kid watches English TV, has a Spanish speaking dad, and a Japanese speaking mother. He said his kid (3ish) still does not speak much.
cleo at 10:02 AM JST - 27th August

He said his kid (3ish) still does not speak much

My son didn't speak much at that age. Most people around us put it down to him being 'confused' by having an English-speaking mother and a Japanese-speaking father, and advised us to cut out the English. We didn't, of course. Son was so quiet that at the regular toddler health check the nurse got us an appointment with a therapist. A couple of weeks later we went along to see him; Son was chattering twenty to the dozen, and the therapist wanted to know why we were wasting his time.

Now in addition to native-level Japanese and fluent English, Son also speaks a third European language fluently, can get by in a fourth and has started learning a fifth. He also has his eyes set on a sixth. A slow start in a bilingual household is nothing to worry about; I'd even go so far as to say it may be normal. Just keep talking to and interacting with the child, keep it fun and eventually you'll have a happy, bilingual (at least) child.
Azrael at 09:16 PM JST - 27th August

Ultimately, whether a person becomes bilingual or not depends on the person itself. Children of course, are subject to the education style of their parents. Some people learned to play the piano and don't even know why, simply because their parents sent them to piano classes from an early age. Same goes with bilingual people. If their parents speak frequently to them in the second desired language, the child will sooner or later pick the basics of that language and IF the child remains interested, the child will develop it as his or her second language.

The main problem of the Brazilian lady seems to be (may I insist) the time she cannot spend with her son. Reading the article again I realized I was mistaken when I thought the child was born in Japan: the child is Brazilian, born in Brazil. Now I see better why his Portuguese inability is a hair-raising problem. His reluctance towards learning the language too (as he expresses he does not wish to return to Brazil and his rejection to the idea is expressed in his reluctance to focus on his Portuguese lessons), I cannot but wish her the best of luck. Hamamatsu city's program is a step in a good direction.

The other case in the article about the 12 years old girl that speaks little Japanese, expresses herself in Portuguese and yet cannot read Portuguese, is quite sad. It also reminded me of certain tribes in the Caribbean (as surely is the case in other lands) whose language lacks a written form. Lore, culture, beliefs and legends are transmitted by storytelling from generation to generation. This shows how a language may be daily spoken and used without reading or writing it. I don't have any children so I wouldn't know by experience, but I do suppose writing and reading are also keystones to teach a child both his parents' native languages. In my own experience with my native language, my father used to read to me every night at bedtime when I was little. That was one of the things that made me pick an interest in learning how to read faster than other children, because I wanted to be able to read stories by myself - and write stories too (which I still do). So talking and watching TV cannot by any means be enough for a child to fully adopt a second language. The Brazilian lady needs more time but she cannot get it, so the Portuguese classes seem to be the best available option in her case, considering the child is actually shunning Portuguese language and does not wish to return to Brazil (his motherland). I think it's more of a stage he's going through than his mother's fault; try to root in Japan (something he knows) instead of Brazil, which he may not remember much. Getting him to spend for example, the weekends in a Brazilian community and environment with other children of his age, share cultural expressions and learn about Brazil itself may help this drift from reoccurring.

In Tokyo, Sophia University's Catholic Church is administrated by jesuits. The bulk of the latin people there are Peruvian laborers. After Mass in Spanish, the people gather to talk and eat snacks at a meeting hall next to the church while others attend free Japanese classes, practice hymns at the chorus's room or take crafts classes. People chat and children play. I think the Brazilian lady needs to find something similar (if she hasn't by now). Sadly, her case cannot be compared to that of prosperous families who have the time and means to offer leisure time together with their kids during the week. She's an immigrant single parent of a seven years old kid , working at a Japanese factory with coworkers who likewise do not speak Japanese. Her child is immerse in a Japanese environment and does not have emotional conversations with his mother (well, he cannot express feelings in Portuguese for a reason). The child only knows Japan and wishes to stay, and seemingly thinks Portuguese is not his priority or even a necessity. It's part of growing up. He is Brazilian and their residency is subject to change. Due to economy, his mother may have to take him back to Brazil. It's not a big tragedy, though. He's just a child whose mother has had to pull his ear and make him behave himself again.
rjd_jr at 07:35 PM JST - 28th August

I hate these stories that try oh so hard to make Japan/Japanese the 'bad guys' with all this heart tugging and ploys for sympathy. I have absolutely no sympathy for any immigrant that complains about language difficulties and whatnot. If any person, and I mean any person, immigrates to another country at least have common courtesy to learn the language on your own. There are many options to learn it, to say one has no time or no outlet is unacceptable in any country.

No sympahthies from me, learn the language. Simple as that does not require a phD to figure that out.
gonemad at 10:19 PM JST - 28th August

rjd_jr, you completly miss the points.

I hate these stories that try oh so hard to make Japan/Japanese the 'bad guys' with all this heart tugging and ploys for sympathy.

Did you really read the article?

I have absolutely no sympathy for any immigrant that complains about language difficulties and whatnot. If any person, and I mean any person, immigrates to another country at least have common courtesy to learn the language on your own.

Certainly, but apart from there being a difference between theory and practice, the article is about another problem. The boy and his mother are Brazilian. Even if the mother would be able to perfectly speak Japanese, she may want to or be forced to return to Brazil. Not teaching Brazilian/Portuguese to the child in this situation would be irresponsible.

There are many options to learn it, to say one has no time or no outlet is unacceptable in any country.

Then for sure you could give some good hints how and where this woman should study Japanese, given her situation as a single mother and factory worker? I think the only thing she can and should do is try to change her work place to a Japanese-only environment, but does she really have a chance to find such a job?
JoiceRojo at 04:57 AM JST - 29th August

I have absolutely no sympathy for any immigrant that complains about language difficulties and whatnot. If any person, and I mean any person, immigrates to another country at least have common courtesy to learn the language on your own. There are many options to learn it, to say one has no time or no outlet is unacceptable in any country. No sympahthies from me, learn the language. Simple as that does not require a phD to figure that out.

I couldn't agree more. You read my mind. If the lady of the article is an inmigrant with a child born in Brazil, she should consider the option or going back to Brazil or make **every ** effort to stay in Japan, if she chooses to stay, then she has to learn the language and then, when the son is older, try to maintain the roots of the portuguese language, in case that they want to visit their homeland.

DS. When I said "The father doesn't exist" was a manner of speech, obviously there should be a male counterpart for the boy to be born, but what I meant is that the lady is alone with her child and she doesn't count on him to support her. We don't know where he is (he could be in Japan or Brazil) or if he is alive, the fact is that the father is not at the side of the lady and his son.
AnnaP at 10:27 AM JST - 30th August

All the above made very interesting reading. I grew up and still live in the UK but both my parents are Japanese who communicate to me in Japanese because their English is so poor (still, after so many many years here)and as a child I attended Japanese school on Saturdays.....however I can hardly be considered bilingual...my standard of Japanese is appalling! I always felt I was "forced" to go to J school and it felt such a thankless task having to study kanji etc. when I already had a lot of homework from my usual school. I hence lost interest completely in learning any Japanese or anything about their culture. Of course I regret this and wish it had been made more interesting and a form of play/fun activity as opposed to a "chore".
Blue_Tiger at 09:10 AM JST - 3rd September

What I don't get is why is the son not understanding his mother, if Portuguese is used at home? I have friends who grew up in Spanish-speaking homes in the USA, yet despite going to an all-English School, were still bilingual and understood their parents 100% of the time when they were spoken to in Spanish. I know about immersion, but not being able to understand the spoken language at home is unbelievable. In a way, Masashi's clamis about not being able to understand his mother seem like a cop-out. I'd bet that he understands more than he is letting on....
ttokyo at 06:25 PM JST - 3rd September

> "These kids should focus on Portuguese acquisition first ..." "The language focus should be shifted to Japanese over generations."

Matsumoto is completely wrong. If a child is living in Japan, and plans to continue living here, that child should go to a Japanese school and gain a thorough understanding of Japanese. To do otherwise would condemn the child to a life of menial, poorly-paid jobs. >

Also, my gut feeling is also that something is wrong here. No problem if a city is offering Japanese lessons for better integration, but giving Portugese lessons to Brazilian immigrants ? The core of the problem is rather that these people are utterly failing in their job of being parents and spending time with their children. That might indeed be because she works a 7-day 12 hour shifts to send money back home (or maybe because prefers to go to Karaoke with the other girls and has her son watch Japanese TV instead). It's the best what can happen to a smart boy, getting out of that low-level brazilian environment and pick up a native level of Japanese for appropriate higher education.
rurika at 12:24 AM JST - 11th September

Azrael nailed it: she doesn't spend enough time with her kid for him to be fluent in Portuguese. She's a single parent working in a factory, she can afford to quit to become a housewife. She doesn't even have the time to attend Japanese lessons herself. She's not a bad parent, she's got her priorities right: food on the table and a roof over their heads.

How many hours a week do they spend together? I bet that boy eats a lot of his meals alone while she's at work. He doesn't have anyone else to teach him his mother tongue. I am bilingual but I had parents who worked normal office hours and spent a lot of time interacting with me in their language. I hope that little boy will make progress in that Portuguese class otherwise he will end up not fitting in anywhere when he grows up.
rurika at 12:43 AM JST - 11th September

she can't afford to quit
umpatan at 09:38 AM JST - 1st June

I think that if they are fully ethnically Japanese, and if the kids are born in Japan, they should just be given a Japanese nationality, and forgo the portugese lessons. Brazil was their parent's host country, and now that they have repatriated, they need to focus on how to live as normal Japanese citizens. Their case should NOT be viewed like Zanichi Koreans and Chinese whose ethnicity is really Korean or Chinese, and thus need to keep up their Korean or Chinese ways. For the Japanese Brazillian children born and raised in Japan, they need to integrate into Japanese ways as they are ethnically Japanese so they have the best chance of being normal in Japan. This goes for Kikokushijos (Japanese returnees children already, and they should be treated as such). The children also have no business maintaining their Brazillian nationality unless they are Mestizos (mixed ethnicity). A child born in Japan with full Japanese ethnicity has no ties to Brazil, and Japan needs to focus on brining full assimiliation for these children. The parents need to focus on learning Japanese and renaturalizing as Japanese nationals and rid themselves of their foreign ways as much as possible. Many Japanese Brazillians have dual citizenship also. For those that do, they need to be in Japan as a Japanese, and not a Brazillian. Only those of Latino blood should keep calling themselves Brazillians.