Toiling the Soil

Those Japanese who migrated to the Americas cultivated the vast soil and challenged a trial in wide-ranging fields of agriculture. They worked hard to grow vegetables, fruits, coffee, cotton, soy beans, rice and flowers. They also grappled with tropical agriculture in the Amazon, and achieved a great success in growing jute and pepper. Many Japanese farmers were willing to work even on Sundays to win success. Such diligence was sometimes criticized in North and South America; while in Brazil, their diligence and honesty were appreciated. Hard-working Japanese were called "Japonês garantido (guaranteed Japanese)."