Alan's Cultural Center Without Borders

Where We Call Home.

Between the bountiful sea and mountains some 3,000 m tall is the city of Imizu in Toyama Prefecture.

Set up in a former home improvement store in the center of town is a unique facility.

Here, foreigners and Japanese living in the area come to practice all kinds of sports and activities.

It was founded by a third-generation Brazilian-Japanese.

Alan Yamashita.

Whether you're Japanese, Russian,
Filipino or Chinese, it doesn't matter.

I want everyone to feel at home.

So, let's drop by for a visit at Alan's cultural center where all are welcome, no matter their nationality.

The city of Imizu in Toyama is known for its manufacturing and rice farming industries.

Many workers are non-Japanese.

Including Brazilians and Russians, about 2,700 foreigners live here, making up three percent of the population.

The Braves Cultural Center was set up in a former home improvement store two years ago.

From five p.m., members of the non-Japanese community come here after work or school.

At Braves, there are currently seven different sports classes, as well as a cafe and nail salon, among other businesses.

For the equivalent of about twelve US dollars per hour, anyone can open a class or shop here.

The teachers of this kickboxing class are from Brazil and Japan.

One, two, hook, and back!

Trampoline dance is a popular exercise among women.

This is my second home.

I used to be heavier.
Working out here has helped.

I still have weight to lose!

Begin!

Another favorite is the Brazilian jiu-jitsu class.

The teacher is also the founder of Braves, Alan Yamashita, a Brazilian of Japanese descent.

He's a former Japanese champion.

Touch the tatami with your forehead, and
put your weight on the back of his head.

He teaches a total of 24 adults and children.

One of Alan's students went on to become the Toyama prefectural champion.

I got stronger, made many friends,
it's a lot of fun.

Everyone here is like family.

I wanted to create a place like this...

where people of different nationalities
can learn and play together. I'm glad.

Braves counts about 80 users from seven different countries, including Brazil and Russia.

Alan takes on the role of a caring big brother to everyone.

A mother and daughter from Ukraine come after a month-long absence.

Where were you?

Do you go to school?

No? Why not?
Taking a break?

- It's been a long time.
- I've been tired.

I was worried about you.

They joined Braves two years ago, but had been regularly absent since the start of Russia's invasion of their home country.

Alan purposely avoids mentioning the war.

He wants them to come here with ease of mind and feel relaxed.

However, recently fewer Russians have been coming to the center.

The war is casting its shadow on the users' everyday lives.

My son's friends asked him
if he was Russian or Ukrainian.

He couldn't answer.

Here, no one talks about the war,
even among the kids.

So, we can come here without worry.

Good morning.

Alan lives with his wife and their two daughters.

He first met Caroline 12 years ago at a Brazilian jiu-jitsu school in Japan.

Today, their older daughter Alice is attending her elementary school entrance ceremony while a friend babysits their younger daughter.

I'm glad I'm in this class.

Fluent in Japanese, Alice has made a lot of friends.

Alan insists that their daughters grow up in the same environment as Japanese children.

He doesn't want them to face the same language problems he struggled with.

Alan is from Sao Paolo, the largest city in Brazil.

When he was in his first year of high school, he followed his parents who came to work in Japan.

Unable to attend school due to financial reasons, he started to work right away.

But as he spoke no Japanese at all, he felt a massive wall between him and his colleagues.

I thought people in Japan spoke English.
I found out they didn't.

I just did my job.

It was a shock.

It was quite hard mentally.
I wanted to go back to Brazil.

His only escape from solitude was the Brazilian jiu-jitsu school he began to attend after he was invited by a friend.

As he trained and sparred with them, he made Japanese friends.

Good morning!

Eight years ago, he also found a job and workplace he loves.

He's in charge of installing solar panels.

As he worked surrounded by friendly colleagues, he was able to learn Japanese.

Everyone here has such a big heart.
Some have a big belly, too.

What?
You're one to talk!

With newly-made close friends by his side, his life took a positive turn.

His wish to help non-Japanese like him who feel alone away from their home country is what lead to his founding of the Braves Cultural Center.

Good morning.
Long time no see!

A dear friend helped him set his project in motion - Ishikura Katsutoshi.

He works for a local company that sells oil.

The two of them met at the Brazilian jiu-jitsu school not long after Alan arrived in Japan.

When Alan applied to rent the building for his center, Ishikura became his guarantor.

He's a father to me.

We'd trained together, so I trusted him.
No need to speak.

There are good and bad people
in whatever nationality.

I just knew he was a good person.

I'm so thankful.

From the interior finishing to the colorful murals, at Braves, everything's handmade.

Two years have passed.

The center has become a social hub for the non-Japanese residents of Imizu.

However, Alan believes something needs to be improved.

I want more Japanese to come.

Yeah, that would be great.

Many don't know Braves
or hesitate to come.

If you held a barbecue here,
Japanese would come.

With no chances to interact,
people never get to know each other...

and that creates barriers.

Mid-April — Alan is absorbed in some DIY carpentry work.

He's decided to hold an event to promote Braves among the Japanese locals.

The "Kids Easter Egg Hunt."

As a child, he used to love Easter. That's why he chose this theme.

- Anything I can taste?
- Not yet!

Alan's mother Silvia is hard at work cooking some Brazilian dishes for the event.

She's preparing a deep-fried delight: coxinha.

Chicken wrapped in a cassava-based batter.

It's an all-time favorite among Brazilians.

I want people to know our culture,
and enjoy it with us.

I want their impression
of foreign cultures to be a positive one.

To better welcome the local Japanese to the festivities, Silvia assigns a small task to her son.

You need to open the festa
with a welcome speech...

just like Japanese people
usually start their events.

No.

- No need to do that.
- Yes!

You have to greet your guests
just like Japanese people do.

Oh dear!

- If you won't do it, I will.
- I'll do it.

Alan's never spoken in public in Japanese.

For him, this is quite a challenge.

The night before the big day.

Some of Braves' instructors and regular users came to give Alan a hand.

The center holds a few events every year.

With each time, the circle of people who help organize them grows bigger.

Alan asked a friend who speaks Japanese fluently for a few pointers to prepare his opening greeting.

- And now...
- And now...

- everyone...
- everyone...

let's sing together.

The day has come.

An hour before opening time, participants start to arrive.

Ventilation, masks, hand sanitizer - thorough measures are taken against COVID.

An international roster of parents and children have gathered.

But no signs of Japanese participants yet.

Alan's daughter, Alice, eagerly waits for a friend she invited.

Haruka!

With some hesitation, a Japanese mother-and-daughter pair comes in.

Haruka and her mother Marie are neighbors of Alan's family.

Alice invited Haruka to come join in on the fun.

She came over to our house to invite us.

She said, 'Come play some games with us.' The place is so nicely decorated.
What a surprise!

Everything is ready for the party to begin.

Notes in hand, Alan makes his speech.

Quiet everyone!

Welcome, Easter egg hunters!

Let's get this started!

But first... first, I want to thank you all
for coming here today.

Without each one of you,
this event wouldn't be possible.

Let's party!

His message of gratitude came across nicely!

There was no need to worry after all.

Three, two, one!

Kicking off the event is the titular game.

The kids rush to find as many eggs as they can.

Unfamiliar with this kind of game, Haruka looks a bit lost.

No more?

Everyone's looking for them so eagerly.

Haruka, check over there.
Alice, go with her.

Alice helps her friend.

Finally, an egg!

But she lets this little girl have it.

She shared.
How sweet.

- Not bad. I'm still trying...
- Oh, wow.

- This part's tough.
- What game?

- She's a friend?
- She came and talked to us. Thanks.

- Where are you from?
- Moldova.

- Do you enjoy school?
- Not really. I don't like to study.

You must have many friends.

They're all so cute!

Though they were nervous at first, Haruka and Marie are now having a blast.

I'm happy.

It's a different world.
Something in me changed.

It's such a positive feeling.

I was so happy many people came
to talk to us so cheerfully.

You can come here after school.
Alice is here, too.

Before they head home, Marie gives Alice some accessories she made.

It's to thank her for the invitation.

- Thank you so much. We had fun!
- Thank you!

Of the 120-or-so participants, 10 were Japanese.

Two months from now, Alan plans to hold an event to introduce Brazilian culture and traditions.

So many people came,
and they had fun.

I'm so happy and grateful.
I hope they come again.

Anyone who comes through this door
is a friend, no matter their nationality...

or their social status.

Everyone is the same.

Just like he built Braves, Alan dreams to build a future where everyone gets along, no matter where they're from.

Hi! I'm Miko Alasta
from Sumatra in Indonesia.

The fruit and vegetables we grow here
are really tasty! Come visit us!

Showa Village in Gunma is one of Japan's
leading producers of highland vegetables.

Today I start by harvesting strawberries.

Let's go.

10 of this farm's 25 employees
are non-Japanese like Miko.

Strawberries are
the main produce in spring.

This is a variety called Yayoi Hime.

If the strawberries are too small,
or too light in color, I wait.

Looks tasty.

I have to hold them between my fingers...

and pick them very gently,
without using much strength.

I place them at an angle like this
so they don't move.

Strawberries are soft and get easily
damaged, so I make sure they don't roll.

It takes time and practice
to be able to harvest them.

The farm cultivates
a broad range of produce.

These are lettuce seedlings.
I'm preparing to plant them.

Recognized for his hard work and skill,
Miko was appointed sub-leader for lettuce.

Not everyone can use this germicide.

It takes expertise.

"germicide" "fertilizer"

I determine how many seedlings
we will plant.

I have to consider many things,
like the weather.

OK, they're all set for planting.

Miko is from a family of farmers
in Indonesia.

Interested in machinery,
he came to Japan in 2016.

All our farming machinery
was Japanese made.

So, I thought that studying farming
in Japan would be useful in the future.

I began to feel I was making progress
when I got my license to drive a tractor.

With a license, I could operate
the machinery freely.

It made me feel very proud.

Inaba-san is the foreman
here at this farm.

Inaba-san I can always count on him for advice
when I have a problem.

He's like a big brother.

At first, he was rather shy.

But year by year...

he's been able to express his opinion
more and more.

He's been such a big help.

He designs and builds
all sorts of useful equipment.

It's impressive.

Here.

I made these racks.

He built this using only
discarded materials.

When we put our things on the floor,
they'd get dirty...

so I made these to hold our stuff.

You're not an early bird.

Some produce needs harvesting
at 2 or 3 a.m.

My phone's battery ran out...

- so my alarm...
- Excuses?

Miko is in charge
of shipping the strawberries.

Let's check this.

- Are these OK?
- Let me check.

Some strawberries were a bit squashed.

Customers pay with
their hard-earned money.

So, I want to ensure the best quality.

The strawberries are sold
at the village market.

I bring more on weekends
because more customers come.

Seeing happy customers is the best.

They bought some.

Great!

These notebooks are my treasures.

Everything from various costs
to how to use fertilizer...

I study with these.

I want to open my own
farming equipment store in Sumatra.

My hometown is in a farming region,
so a store like that would help.

I want to continue to enjoy working
with Japanese people here...

and make use of my experience
to start something new.