Outside The Factory: The Maintenance of Nikkei-Peruvian Identity

The social spaces in which Nikkei-Peruvians meet are crucial in maintaining their ethnic identity in Oizumi. Nikkei-Peruvians have two principal spaces where they are able to come together and enrich their lives with music, dance, food, drink, friends, and family from Peru. Each location has unique characteristics that fulfill different aspects of Nikkei-Peruvian identity. The personal experiences that drew me to my conclusions and provoked questions complement the brief analysis at the end of each section. A different perspective on Nikkei-Peruvian identity is outlined by my colleague Angelica Landauro in Hopes and Future Expectations.

These three restaurants and Disco Ebony are the only spaces that the Nikkei-Peruvian community can call its own in Oizumi. Each unique social atmosphere enables individuals to come together maintain and to affirm their Nikkei-Peruvian identity. For the 566 Peruvians who live in Oizumi, these restaurants are the principal means by which they can preserve their cultural identities.