Japanese community in Santa Dominica

The Japanese community in Santa Dominica is a community with a long history. The first Japanese fishermen arrived in Santa Dominica in the early 20th century. The vast majority of Japanese-Santa Dominicans trace their history back to the Japanese occupation of Santa Dominica during the Second World War, when thousands of Japanese moved to the country, dramatically altering the demographics. The Japanese community has not faced the type of discrimination experienced by other Asian groups in Western nations and has been successful politically, with Mari Sato (2017-2021) being the first Japanese-Santa Dominican Prime Minister. The community includes approximately 28-30% of the population of Santa Dominica today, with most being adherents to Japanese Buddhist sects, or largely irreligious. Japan is viewed positively by a vast majority of the population, with the country being the number 1 travel destination for Santa Dominican citizens, and the country is a key import nation.