Every end of winter, the primarily Japanese community of Pirapo, (est. 1960) located 30 minutes north of us, has their annual orchid festival. Here are some pictures of the showcased orchid species from Brazil, Japan and Hawaii, yet all seem to grow well here in the sub-tropical climate: 
Did you know that there are more than 25,000 types of orchids! We serve a very creative God!
This is the Japanese community center where the public could purchase orchids from Paraguayan growers. That is a sumo ring in the middle of the picture. Adjacent to the center is a baseball diamond, the only ones in our state are located in this city!
Since maintaining some of their culture elements (food, language, arts) is very important to this Japanese-Paraguayan community, their grocery store sells all kinds of Japanese imports, like seaweed, rice, packaged fish and seafood and even desserts! We always love going to Japanese restaurant in town because the food is excellent and authentic. There are five Japanese communities in Paraguay and many specialize in agriculture (soybeans and strawberries in our area). Here is a link and another with more on the history of Japanese emigration to Paraguay in 1936. We are thankful to live in a culture of cultures!
Did you know that there are more than 25,000 types of orchids! We serve a very creative God!
This is the Japanese community center where the public could purchase orchids from Paraguayan growers. That is a sumo ring in the middle of the picture. Adjacent to the center is a baseball diamond, the only ones in our state are located in this city!
Since maintaining some of their culture elements (food, language, arts) is very important to this Japanese-Paraguayan community, their grocery store sells all kinds of Japanese imports, like seaweed, rice, packaged fish and seafood and even desserts! We always love going to Japanese restaurant in town because the food is excellent and authentic. There are five Japanese communities in Paraguay and many specialize in agriculture (soybeans and strawberries in our area). Here is a link and another with more on the history of Japanese emigration to Paraguay in 1936. We are thankful to live in a culture of cultures!
Just wondering - what is the historical reason for a Japanese community existing in Paraguay?
ReplyDeleteJust added links to elaborate more on the Japanese emigration to Paraguay. Great question with a fascinating history!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to say that I hear that the orchid growers of Paraguay have focused more on growing the more well-known horticultural orchids of the world of outside of Paraguay than on preserving the species and habitat of the endemic species. I note that it is nearly impossible to find on the Web seed or seedlings of orchids of Paraguay's species.
ReplyDelete