The beginnings of Asian immigration to Latin America dates back to the early 19th century and with its significance ranks among the most compelling migration processes in Latin American history. One of the main centers of Asian minorities on the South American continent became Peru, into which directed vast number of immigrants who represented a cheap source of labor, such as Chinese in the second half of the 19th century and Japanese in the early of 20th century. This thesis aims to describe the historical development of Asian immigration to Peru focusing on Japanese immigration in the period of 1899 - 1945 and its importance in contemporary Peruvian society. The first part aims to describe the evolution of Asian immigration to Peru in the period of the 20th century and the change of Japanese immigrant status from cheap labor forces into entrepreneurial elite. The second part concentrates on economic analysis, demographic and socioeconomic data that is used for better understanding of each period of Japanese immigration in Peru. At the end of the thesis will be briefly described the development of Japanese immigration after 1945.

The beginnings of Asian immigration to Latin America dates back to the early 19th century and with its significance ranks among the most compelling migration processes in Latin American history. One of the main centers of Asian minorities on the South American continent became Peru, into which directed vast number of immigrants who represented a cheap source of labor, such as Chinese in the second half of the 19th century and Japanese in the early of 20th century. This thesis aims to describe the historical development of Asian immigration to Peru focusing on Japanese immigration in the period of 1899 - 1945 and its importance in contemporary Peruvian society. The first part aims to describe the evolution of Asian immigration to Peru in the period of the 20th century and the change of Japanese inmigrant status from cheap labor forces into entrepreneurial elite. The second part concentrates on economic analysis, demographic and socioeconomic data that is used for better understanding of each etap of Japanese inmigration in Peru.