Celebrating 100 years of Japanese Immigration to Brazilby Fabiola Lodi | 25.06.2011

Japanese Immigration Memorial

The Japanese Immigration Memorial in the Pampulha´s architectural complex in Belo Horizonte was planned by Brazilian architects Gustavo Penna and Mariza Machado Coelho. The Monument-Museum celebrates the friendship between Japan and the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The project itself is a bridge across a lake that connects, metaphorically, territories, times and ideals. The lake is like an ocean that separates the countries and also represents the challenges and achievements of past times. These actions and works can be seen on the surface of the water, and the submerged spaces represent regions of the unconscious, of feelings and of the remembrance.

A bridge between cultures

The journey starts with a symbolic version of Japan of cherry trees and ends in Minas Gerais state with white ipe trees. The curved walls placed side by side are a reference to Japan and Minas Gerais’ flags: the red circle and triangle inside a white rectangle. It is also a reference to the synthesis and concision that is common to people from both countries. The symmetrical bridge shape with entwined curves symbolizes, at the same time, cohesion, continuous movement and interdependence.

Sharing dreams, ideas and projects

The Japanese Immigration Memorial celebrates the dialogue between people from Minas Gerais and Japan, who share not only dreams, but also exchange ideas and projects. This union can be expressed by the ethnical mix, the cultural cuisine, poetry, design, music and technological partnerships.