From São Paulo to Sakura: The Ultimate Guide for Brazilian Students in Japan

Japan and Brazil have shared a vibrant connection for more than a century. The 1908 voyage of the Kasato Maru, which carried the first Japanese immigrants to Santos, planted the seeds of a cultural bond that now inspires everyone from coffee-farm towns with Nikkei heritage to Gen Z anime fans and tech-savvy professionals. Yet only a few hundred Brazilians seize the chance each year to earn their degrees in the world’s third-largest economy. If you dream of combining globally ranked education with incomparable cultural depth—plus a direct LATAM flight home in under 24 hours—this guide is for you.

Below we unpack eight essentials—from admissions timelines and Brazil‑only scholarships to cost‑of‑living math—so that you can build a winning application strategy. Ready? Vamos lá!

Why Study in Japan from Brazil

World‑Class but Accessible

Japan hosts almost 800 universities spanning AI, sustainable energy, media arts and more. English‑medium degrees are exploding—over 1,000 programs in 2025—so Japanese fluency is no longer a gatekeeper. Yet class sizes remain small and professors approachable, giving you the mentorship edge often missing at Brazilian mega‑campuses.

Innovation Playground

From robotics labs in Osaka to green‑hydrogen pilots in Kyushu, campuses partner directly with giants like Sony and Toyota. You can intern or co‑research with global leaders, then carry patented ideas back to Brazil’s growing tech ecosystem—or stay in Japan and join its J‑MIRAI talent push.

Cultural Synergy & Safety

Japan ranks among the world’s safest nations; even megacities feel walkable at night. Meanwhile, Brazil hosts the largest Japanese diaspora on Earth, so nikkei culture, language schools and samba festivals in Toyohashi or Hamamatsu make homesickness rare.

Quick Facts & Key Numbers

Indicator	Japan	Brazil ➞ Japan Flow
Total universities	≈ 800 (77% private)	-
International students (2024)	336,708	Brazilian students: 855
Top Japanese cities for Brazilians	Tokyo, Nagoya, Hamamatsu	Combined Brazilian population >200k
Scholarship success rate (Brazil‑only programs)	~18 %*	*Mitsui & Nikkei 2024 cohorts

Sources: JASSO international survey; Japanese Ministry of Education via QS; Embassy of Japan in Brazil statistics.

Admission System: Brazil vs. Japan

Step	Brazil	Japan
Starting Date	Feb / Mar (Semester 1)	Apr (main) or Sep
Entrance Exam	ENEM or Vestibular (Nov)	EJU Exam twice yearly
Language Requirement	Portuguese	JLPT N2 + / or IELTS 6.0+
Application Window	Aug‑Oct (for following year)	Oct‑Jan (April intake)
Results Release	Jan	Feb‑Mar
Visa	N/A (domestic)	Student (Ryūgaku) Visa—COE issued by school

Tip: You can sit the EJU in São Paulo every November—crucial if you prefer to secure admission before relocating.

Scholarships Exclusively for Brazil

These programs target Brazilian citizens or Nikkei Brazilians only (some extend to a small Latin‑American cohort). Global schemes like MEXT are therefore excluded.

1. Mitsui & Co. University Scholarship (Brazilian Students in Japan)

Covers up to ¥1.2 million yearly tuition + domestic travel. 4 slots nationwide. Apply September–January. Official page

2. JICA “Nikkei Leaders” Scholarship

Fully funded master’s/doctoral study for Japanese‑Brazilian descendants committed to community leadership. Includes airfare, ¥146 k stipend, research grants. Program guide

Cultural Gap & Adaptation Tips for Brazil

Communication: Read the Air (空気を読む)

Brazilians thrive on spontaneity and expressive gestures; Japanese peers lean toward implicit cues and harmony. Practice “aizuchi” (small listening nods) and wait for your turn in meetings—small tweaks that earn big respect.

Classroom Etiquette

Arrive five minutes early; bow lightly to the professor; and save questions for the Q&A unless invited. Most lecture slides post on the LMS same day—no need to record without permission.

Daily Life Hacks

Stretch your yen without sacrificing nutrition or convenience by adopting these wallet-wise habits:

• Batch-cook & freeze: Shop at discount chains like Gyomu Super, OK Store, or Niku no Hanamasa. Bulk cooking drives meal costs down to ¥150–250.
• Night-owl discounts: Supermarkets slash ready-made bentos and sushi by 30–50 % after 8 p.m.—ideal for busy exam weeks.
• Konbini as a safety net: Convenience stores are perfect for 24-hour bill payments and late-night emergencies, but daily dining there will hike your budget.
• Cashless commute: Load a Suica 또는 Pasmo card on your phone; student commuter passes can save up to ¥2,000 per month.
• Tap the senpai network: Join Brazilian LINE groups on campus; graduating seniors often give away futons, rice cookers and bikes at semester’s end.

Religious & Dietary Support for Brazil

Faith Communities

• Catholic (Portuguese-language) – St. Ignatius Church, Yotsuya, celebrates Portuguese Mass at 12:30 p.m. every first Sunday. Mass schedule
• Evangelical – Bethel Japan’s Hamamatsu campus offers weekly services, youth groups and livestreams entirely in Portuguese. Service times
• Inter-denominational – Tokyo Union Church holds bilingual English/Portuguese fellowship on the last Sunday of each month. Community info

Food Options

• Brazilian groceries – Super Mercado Takara (Gunma, Aichi, Shizuoka) stocks feijão, farofa and guaraná soda; most branches wire money to Brazil and speak Portuguese. Store guide
• Dining out – Try churrascaria Que Bom! in Asakusa or Shintora-dōri for all-you-can-eat picanha and feijoada from ¥5,800. Menu & reservations
• Cooking on a budget – Discount chains like Gyomu Super sell 1 kg frozen chicken for ¥398 and 5 kg rice for ¥1,800—perfect for weekly meal prep.

Community Hubs

Visit the Brazilian Plaza in Oizumi‑machi, Gunma, or the monthly “Brasil Lunch” at Waseda’s international center to stock frozen pão de queijo and practice Japanese slang with fellow compatriotas.

Cost of Living: Brazil vs Japan

Monthly Item	São Paulo (R$)	Tokyo (¥)	Notes
Student rent (shared)	2,100	55,000	Tokyo rent drops 30 % outside Yamanote Line
식료품	1,400	30,000	Buy produce after 8 p.m. discounts
Transport pass	240	8,000	JR East student commuter
Total basic cost*	~3,740	~93,000	*Numbeo comparison: 1 R$ ≈ 26.8 ¥

Numbeo calculates you need roughly R$27,700 (~¥741k) yearly more in Tokyo to match middle‑class life in São Paulo, but savvy students cut that gap by dorm living and scholarship stipends.

Graduate Outcomes for Brazil

Near‑Full Employment

Sophia University reports a 97 % job‑placement rate within six months of graduation, mirrored by public universities like Osaka (95 %). Engineering, data science and tourism graduates are especially sought after under Japan’s new “Designated Activities” work visa.

Pathways Back Home

Japanese multinationals—from Rakuten to NEC—operate R&D hubs in Campinas, Curitiba and Manaus. Alumni with Japanese degrees and language skills out‑earn peers by up to 35 % (IBGE wage survey 2025).