ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses how post-war Nikkei define the comunidad japonesa (Japanese community) and how they negotiate ethnic boundaries in daily life. Many descendants declare to feel an affinity to co-ethnics and Nikkei association leaders often try to present a homogeneous community to the outside. Endogamy has further contributed to create a distinctive ethnic identity. At the same time, the Nikkei both identify with and distance themselves from the cruceño middle class using specific stereotypes. Many Nikkei parents also hope to resist the perceived loss of values sending their children to Japanese school. Some even try to propagate “Japanese values” towards non-Nikkei work colleagues. All this occurs with an implicit or explicit reference to Japan while many Nikkeis’ relation to that country is becoming increasingly ambivalent.
