{{Infobox settlement <!--See the Table at Infobox Settlement for all fields and descriptions of usage--> <!-- Basic info ---------------->| official_name = Assaí, Paraná, Brazil | other_name = | native_name = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English --> | nickname = | settlement_type = Municipality | motto = <!-- images and maps -----------> | image_skyline = Pe saojose.jpg | imagesize = | image_caption = | image_flag = Bandeiraassai.jpg | flag_size = | image_shield = Brasaoassai.jpg | image_map = | mapsize = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = | pushpin_label_position = bottom | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Brazil | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{flag|Brazil}} | subdivision_type1 = Region | subdivision_name1 = South | subdivision_type2 = State | subdivision_name2 = Paraná | subdivision_type3 = Mesoregion | subdivision_name3 = Norte Pioneiro Paranaense | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 = <!-- Politics -----------------> | government_footnotes = | government_type = | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Michel Angelo Bomtempo (PSD) | established_title = <!-- Settled --> | established_date = <!-- Area ---------------------> | area_magnitude = | unit_pref = Imperial <!--Enter: Imperial, if Imperial (metric) is desired--> | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = | area_land_km2 = <!--See table @ Template:Infobox Settlement for details on automatic unit conversion--> <!-- Population ----------------------->| population_as_of = 2020 <ref>[https://cidades.ibge.gov.br/brasil/pr/assai/panorama IBGE 2020]</ref> | population_footnotes = | population_note = | population_total = 14,954 | population_density_km2 = <!-- General information ---------------> | timezone = BRT | utc_offset = −3 | timezone_DST = | utc_offset_DST = | coordinates = | elevation_footnotes = <!--for references: use <ref> tags--> | elevation_m = | elevation_ft = <!-- accord. to Google Earth--> <!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->| postal_code_type = <!-- enter ZIP code, Postcode, Post code, Postal code... --> | postal_code = | area_code = | blank_name = | blank_info = | website = | footnotes = }} '''Assaí''' is a municipality in the state of Paraná in the South Region of Brazil.<ref name="IBGE_DTB_2008">{{cite web |url=https://geoftp.ibge.gov.br/organizacao_do_territorio/estrutura_territorial/divisao_territorial/2008/dtb_2008.zip |title=Divisão Territorial do Brasil |date=July 1, 2008 |publisher=Divisão Territorial do Brasil e Limites Territoriais, Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) |access-date=December 17, 2009|language=pt}}</ref><ref name="IBGE_Pop_2009">{{cite web | url = http://www.ibge.gov.br/home/estatistica/populacao/estimativa2009/POP2009_DOU.pdf | title = Estimativas da população para 1º de julho de 2009| publisher = Estimativas de População, Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) | date = August 14, 2009 | access-date=December 17, 2009 | format = PDF|language=pt }}</ref><ref name="PNUD_IDH_2000">{{cite web|url=http://www.pnud.org.br/atlas/ranking/IDH-M%2091%2000%20Ranking%20decrescente%20(pelos%20dados%20de%202000).htm |title=Ranking decrescente do IDH-M dos municípios do Brasil |year=2000 |publisher=Atlas do Desenvolvimento Humano, Programa das Nações Unidas para o Desenvolvimento (PNUD) |access-date=December 17, 2009 |language=pt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091003103229/http://www.pnud.org.br/atlas/ranking/IDH-M%2091%2000%20Ranking%20decrescente%20%28pelos%20dados%20de%202000%29.htm |archive-date=October 3, 2009 }}</ref><ref name="IBGE_PIB_2005">{{cite web|url=http://www.ibge.gov.br/home/estatistica/economia/pibmunicipios/2005/tab01.pdf |title=Produto Interno Bruto dos Municípios 2002-2005 |date=December 19, 2007 |publisher=Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) |access-date=December 17, 2009 |language=pt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081002024524/http://www.ibge.gov.br/home/estatistica/economia/pibmunicipios/2005/tab01.pdf |archive-date=October 2, 2008 }}</ref> Founded by Japanese immigrants in 1932, the city is noted for having the highest percentage of Asian Brazilians in the country.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Honda-Hasegawa |first=Laura |date=2024-12-24 |title=Japanese Style Christmas in Brazil |url=http://discovernikkei.org/en/journal/2024/12/24/natal-ao-estilo-japones/ |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=Discover Nikkei}}</ref>
==History== Assaí was founded in 1932 by Japanese migrants, becoming a municipality on January 28, 1944. Assaí is among a number of small cities in Brazil founded by Japanese immigrants, including Bastos and Pereira Barreto in São Paulo.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Story |first=Nick |date=2021-07-14 |title=Location spotlight: The Japanese influence in Brazil |url=https://www.storyproductions.com/location-spotlight-japan |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=Story Productions}}</ref>
The city was initially named '''Assailand''', before ultimately being renamed in 1944.<ref name=":0" />
=== Asian heritage === The city has the highest reported percentage of Asian Brazilians in the country, comprising 11.5% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-22 |title=2022 Census: self-reported brown population is the majority in Brazil for the first time {{!}} News Agency |url=https://agenciadenoticias.ibge.gov.br/en/agencia-news/2184-news-agency/news/38726-2022-census-self-reported-brown-population-is-the-majority-in-brazil-for-the-first-time |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=Agência de Notícias - IBGE |language=en-GB}}</ref> In 2018, the city inaugurated a Japanese-style castle in a ceremony attended by around 4,000 spectators. The castle was modeled by Himeji Castle in Japan's Hyōgo Prefecture, which itself is a "sister province" of the state of Paraná.
== Politics and government == In the second round of the 2022 Brazilian general election, Assaí voted for Jair Bolsonaro with 70.43% of the vote, with Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva taking 29.57% of the vote.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-31 |title=Eleições em Assaí (PR): Veja como foi a votação no 2º turno |url=https://g1.globo.com/pr/norte-noroeste/noticia/2022/10/31/eleicoes-em-assai-pr-veja-como-foi-a-votacao-no-2o-turno.ghtml |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=G1 |language=pt-br}}</ref>
The city's current mayor is Michel Angelo Bomtempo, a member of the Social Democratic Party (PSD).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Prefeitura Municipal de Assaí - PR |url=https://www.assai.pr.gov.br/prefeito |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=assai.pr.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-30 |title=Eleições 2024: Tuti (PSD) {{!}} Candidato(a) a prefeito(a) de Assaí-PR {{!}} Folha |url=https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/poder/eleicoes/candidatos/2024/pr/prefeito/tuti-160002144189.shtml |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=Folha de S.Paulo |language=pt-BR}}</ref>
==See also== *List of municipalities in Paraná *Asian Brazilians *Japanese Brazilians
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Municipalities of Paraná}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Assai}} Category:Municipalities in Paraná (state) Category:Japanese-Brazilian culture
{{ParanáBR-geo-stub}}