Japanese people in Meliepully

Metro Meliepully includes a Japanese community (Welsh: Cymuned Japaneaidd yn Y Porthladd; Japanese: ポートデイビスの日本人コミュニティ) which was established during World War II as Allied governments forced ethnic Japanese in their countries to migrate to neutral countries. This community increased in the post-war period as Japanese persons wished to re-establish themselves in a new city. In 2013 the official number of Japanese residents in Meliepully was 54,129.

In terms of cultural assimilation there is a wide spectrum of experience: from Japanese immigrants who have made Meliepully their permanent home to company employees and their families transferred on short-term assignments whose social networks are often limited beyond the Japanese expatriate community.

In 2001 over half of people born in Japan who lived in Patagonia had their homes in Metropolitan Meliepully.

Culture
Japanese expatriates in Patagonia largely possess mastery of English, Spanish and to a lesser degree Welsh. There are several Buddhist temples in Patagonia, but primarily concentrated in Metropolitan Meliepully, which serve the Japanese community. Most are affiliated with the Zen branch of Mahayana Buddhism. Elements of Japanese culture have also been added into the Patagonian landscape, notably in Meliepully, where sushi bars and Japanese restaurants are commonly found.