Liberdade is the name of a district in the subprefecture of Sé, in São Paulo. It is home to the world's largest ethnic Japanese community outside Japan.
The Japanese presence in the neighborhood began in 1912. At this time, Japanese immigrants began to take up residence on the Rua Conde de Sarzedas. Basement apartments were numerous and inexpensive, and groups of people or families often lived together in the small rooms. However, the central location of the neighborhood meant immigrants could also be closer to work.
As the number of immigrants in the neighborhood grew, so did commercial activity. Soon Japanese-owned inns, emporiums, restaurants, shops, and markets were popping up. These new commercial endeavors also become workplaces, which brought more immigrants to the area, and thus the "street of the Japanese" was formed.
Significant populations of Chinese, Taiwanese and Koreans also live in the district of Liberdade.
