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Those immigrants who abandoned the haciendas at the end of their contracts or fled because what was agreed under their contracts was not fulfilled sought better luck in cities, where they began working mainly in itinerant businesses. Once they were able to raise some capital they established shops that did not require a large investment, such as barber shops. Then, grocery stores, restaurants, shirtmakers’, clockmakers’ began to emerge among others.
This trend became more accentuated over time until more than 80 percent of Japanese immigrants had settled in urban areas, a phenomenon that provided the Japanese community the opportunity to participate more positively in various aspects of Peruvian life.