Japan Square
Praça do Japão
TypeSquare
LocationCuritiba, Paraná - Brasil
Nearest cityCuritiba
Coordinates25°26′45″S 49°17′14″W / 25.44583°S 49.28722°W / -25.44583; -49.28722
Area14,000 m²
Opened1962
Plants30 cherry trees

Japan Square is a public space in the city of Curitiba, the capital of the Brazilian state of Paraná.

It was built in honor of the Japanese immigrants to Brazil who arrived starting in 1910. Paraná has the second-largest Japanese community in Brazil, behind São Paulo, and as of 2023 is home to more than 32,000 of its descendants.

History

The square's construction began in 1958 and was completed in 1962. A renovation in 1993 included the creation of the Japanese Portal and the Japanese Immigration Memorial. The memorial includes the Hideo Handa Library, opened in 2008,[1] in honor of the writer of Japanese descent.[2]

In July 2018, the Tomie Ohtake Space was opened in honor of Japanese-Brazilian artist and sculptor Tomie Ohtake, who passed away in 2015. A seven-meter-tall red steel sculpture, designed by Ohtake, was installed at the site.[3]

Design

The square sits within a wooded area of 14,000 square meters, and features 30 cherry trees sent by the Japanese Empire and six artificial lakes. A sculpture of Buddha in the center of one of the lakes was placed to symbolize the brotherhood between the cities of Curitiba and Himeji.

There is also a stone-carved lantern, a traditional symbol in Japanese gardens, donated by the legislative assembly of Hyogo, the sister region of Paraná, in 1979.

The square also includes the Tea House and the House of Culture, featuring works of Japanese literature, origami, ikebana, and haiku.

References

  1. ↑ Structure/History - Hideo Handa Library (Japanese Immigration Memorial) Municipal Secretary of Education - Curitiba - accessed on December 30, 2017
  2. ↑ Japanese Culture Workshops Taken to 2,500 People Curitiba News Agency - accessed on December 30, 2017
  3. ↑ Japan Square to Have New Space with Exclusive Tomie Ohtake Sculpture Curitiba News Agency - Accessed on December 14, 2018
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