Brazil Issues Apology to Japanese Immigrants

On Thursday, the Brazilian government issued its first official apology for the World War II-era persecution of Japanese immigrants and their descendants, acknowledging human rights violations committed under its previous regime. The Amnesty Commission, an advisory body of the Ministry of Human Rights, highlighted the forced eviction of approximately 6,500 Japanese immigrants and the mistreatment of 172 individuals in a concentration camp from 1946 to 1948. Eneá de Stutz e Almeida, the commission's president, expressed regret for the 'barbarities, atrocities, cruelties, tortures, prejudice, ignorance, xenophobia, and racism' faced by these communities. This apology was prompted by a plea from the Okinawa Kenjin of Brazil Association, and it emphasizes the need for historical recognition rather than financial compensation. The session included government officials and members of the Japanese community, signifying a reconciliatory step towards acknowledging the past injustices. The apology aims to restore the honor of the Nikkei community nearly 80 years after the war.