Sakura Maru brings first Japanese immigrants to Callao

Background. Peru established diplomatic relations with Japan in June 1873, becoming the first Latin American country to do so. This diplomatic foundation preceded the first organized migration. The arrival of the Sakura Maru in 1899 marked the beginning of Japanese migration to Peru, predating emigration to Brazil by nine years.

Arrival. The Sakura Maru carried Japanese families from Yokohama to Peru, arriving at the port city of Callao on April 3, 1899. The group consisted of 790 individuals who became the first wave of emigrants to establish new lives in Peru. This event is recognized as the first acceptance of Japanese immigration in Latin America.

Legacy. The 790 immigrants who arrived on the Sakura Maru formed the foundation of the Japanese Peruvian community. This group was the first of several waves of emigrants. The community later grew to become the second largest ethnic Japanese population in South America, though this expansion occurred after the initial 1899 arrival.