Historical Timeline of Japanese Bolivian

1899

Out of the first 790 Japanese immigrants to Peru, 91 enter, with two immigrant supervisors, into the lubber growing area in the northern part of La Paz.

 

1900

The Japanese Embassy in Bolivia orders all the Japanese immigrants to retreat to Peru.

 

1908

Seven among the first 790 Japanese immigrants to Peru move to La Paz.

 

1908

There are 15 Japanese in La Paz and one in Cochabamba.

 

1911

There are eighty Japanese in Riberalta. Japanese official Ito reports that the agricultural and wage conditions are both better than in Peru.

 

1914

A diplomatic relation is established between Japan and Bolivia.

 

1915

The Japanese Association is established in Riberalta, Beni Department.

 

1916

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs conducts census on the Japanese in Bolivia and finds that there are 45 Japanese.

 

1917

The Japanese Association is established in Trinidad, Beni Department.

 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs conducts census on the Japanese in Bolivia and finds that there are 677 Japanese.

 

1922

The Japanese Association is established in La Paz.

 

1925

The Central Japanese Association in Cobija is established in Bando Department.

 

1937

In response to the Japanese government's instruction, Consulate General in Lima conducts research on areas for the Japanese to emigrate to and finds that the northern area of Santa Cruz is adequate.

 

1940

Japanese Legation is established in Capital City, La Paz.

 

1941

The Japanese Association in La Paz purchases an assembly hall.

 

1942

The Pacific War breaks out. Japanese Legation in La Paz is closed.

 

1943

29 Japanese who live in La Paz City are interned in US concentration camps.

 

1944

The Japanese Association in La Paz suspends its activities (until 1952).

 

1945

Among the 29 Japanese interned in US camps, seven come back to La Paz.

 

1948

Okinawan immigrants in La Paz City establish Okinawa War-Victim Relief Society.

 

Okinawan immigrants in Riberalta establish Okinawa Relief Society.

 

1949

Riberalta Okinawa War-Victim Relief Society forms Uruma Agricultural Cooperative.

 

1950

Uruma Settlement is established in Santa Cruz Department and the first Japanese from Riberalta move in.

 

1951

45 Peruvian Nisei who live in Japan collectively settle in Santa Cruz.

 

1954

The first Okinawan immigrants enter Uruma Settlement.

 

Toshimichi Nishikawa arrives in Santa Cruz and establishes Santa Cruz Agricultural Development Cooperative.

 

1955

In Uruma Settlement, many Okinawan immigrants die from an epidemic. The settlement is moved to Palometia.

 

"Nishikawa Planned Immigrants" settle in San Juan.

 

1956

An Immigration Accord is signed between the Bolivian and Japanese governments.

 

Okinawa immigrants again move the settlement to where The First Okinawa Settlement is today.

 

Santa Cruz Nikkei Association is established.

 

Bolivia Immigration Promotion Cooperative is established.

 

1957

First planned immigrants settle in San Juan Settlement.

 

1959

The Second Okinawa Settlement is established.

 

1961

The Third Okinawa Settlement is established.

 

La Paz Legation is raised to the status of embassy.

 

1962

Consulate General of Japan is established in Santa Cruz.

 

1964

Memorial towers are built for Japanese immigrants in Riberalta, Trinidad, and Cobija.

 

A Nikkei communal cemetery is established in La Paz.

 

Santa Cruz Nikkei Association is reorganized into Santa Cruz Central Japanese Association.

 

1966

As part of 10th anniversary of the establishment of Santa Cruz Nikkei Association, an assembly hall and land are purchased.

 

The Bolivian-Japanese Immigration Accord is applied to Okinawa.

 

1967

La Paz Japanese Association opens Nikkei children Education Classes, which becomes La Paz Japanese Supplementary School in 1981.

 

Trinidad Japanese Association is dissolved.

 

1969

La Paz Japanese Hall is completed.

 

1971

Santa Cruz Central Japanese Association opens a Japanese school.

 

1972

A Japanese garden is completed in La Paz.

 

1973

Japanese-Bolivian Cultural Association of Santa Cruz is established in 1994. (Later it changes its name to Japanese-Bolivian Association of Santa Cruz and is incorporated.)

 

1975

A Nikkei student dormitory, managed by Japanese-Bolivian Cultural Association of Santa Cruz is completed.

 

1976

A group of Nikkei Nisei establishes Japanese-Bolivian Cultural Center in Riberalta.

 

1979

The 80th Anniversary of the Japanese-Bolivian immigration ceremony is held.

 

1980

Santa Cruz Study Group on Japanese Education is established.

 

1983

The predecessor organization that becomes All Federation of Japanese-Bolivian Associations in 1988 is established.

 

Ituralde-Bolivian Nikkei Association is established in Rurrenabaque (In 1994, it changes its name to Rurrenabaque Japanese-Bolivian Cultural Association.

 

1986

A Japanese hospital is established in Santa Cruz.

 

1989

The celebration for the 90th anniversary of Japanese immigration to Bolivia is conducted.

 

1994

Trinidad Japanese Association is established by dekasegi return migrants from Japan.

 

1995

The Ninth Japan International Cooperation Agency Pan-American Japanese teachers conference is held in Santa Cruz City, sponsored by the Japanese-Bolivian Association of Santa Cruz and Santa Cruz Study Group on Japanese Education.

 

1996

The first national meeting of the All Federation of Japanese-Bolivian Associations is held, changing its name to Federation of Japanese-Bolivian Associations.

 

1998

Okinawa Settlement is incorporated into Bolivian municipality and becomes Okinawa village.

 

1999

The ceremony for the 100th anniversary of Japanese immigration is held.