Pan American Nikkei Association
Encyclopedia
The Pan American Nikkei Association, the English-language name of the Asociación Panamericana Nikkei, is a multi-national, non-governmental organization with membership from Argentina
, Bolivia
, Brazil
, Canada
, Chile
, Colombia
, Mexico
, Paraguay
, Peru
, Uruguay
, United States
.
The biennial conventions are intended to helps promotes closer relationships amongst the Nikkei organizations in the Western Hemisphere. PANA convention are planned in alternating locations amongst North, Central and South American countries.
The Conventions of the Association of Pan American Nikkei (COPANI) have enlarged across the span of time:
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
, Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
History
In 1981, Mexican Nikkei organized the first convention;and its character was summarized in a slogan: "Lt us be better citizens in our continent" (Seamos mejores ciudadanos en nuestro contiente). Delegates from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Peru and the United states joined the Mexican organizers for this initial meeting in Mexico City.Biennial conventions
PANA conventions are an opportunity for the nikkei from North and South America to share and discuss issues and events with cultural, historical, political and economic and political consequences which transcend national borders. These formal gatherings foster an exchange of ideas and create a forum for personal interaction with delegates from different countries.The biennial conventions are intended to helps promotes closer relationships amongst the Nikkei organizations in the Western Hemisphere. PANA convention are planned in alternating locations amongst North, Central and South American countries.
The Conventions of the Association of Pan American Nikkei (COPANI) have enlarged across the span of time:
- 1981 -- The 1st convention in Mexico City, Mexico brought together delegates from six countries.
- 1983 -- The 2nd convention (COPANI II) was held in Peru.
- 1985 -- The 3rd convention (COPANI III) was in Brazil.
- 1987 -- The 4th convention (COPANI IV) took place in Argentina.
- 1989 -- The 5th assembly (COPANI V) was held in the United States at Los Angeles.
- 1991 -- The 6th convention (COPANI VI) was hosted by Paraguay's Nikkei.
- 1993 -- The 7th gathering (COPANI VII) in Vancouver, Canada brought together 400 delegates from 11 countries.
- 1995 -- The 8th assembly (COPANI VIII) in Lima, Peru.
- 1997 -- The 9th convention (COPANI IX) took place in Mexico.
- 1999 -- The 10th convention (COPANI X) was held in Chile.
- 2001 -- The 11th convention (COPANI XI) was hosted by the United States Nikkei at New York City.
- 2003 -- The 12th convention (COPANI XII) was hosted by the Bolivian membership.
- 2005 -- The 13th convention (COPANI XIII) in Vancouver, Canada was actively supported by the National Association of Japanese Canadians.
- 2007 -- The 14th Convencion Panamericana Nikkei (COPANI XIV) in Sao Paolo, Brazil was organized in part by Zaidan Hojin Kaigai Nikkeijin Kyokai. Approximately 700 attended.
- 2009 -- The 15th (COPANI XV) is planned.