[2] The first Japanese entered the country via Brazil and succeeding groups of immigrants tended to reach Argentina through the neighboring nations.

In the pre-war years, Japanese Argentines were concentrated in urban small businesses, especially dry cleaning and cafes in Buenos Aires (see es: Café El Japonés), while some worked as domestic servants, factory workers and longshoremen.

There is an important Japanese community in the city of Belén de Escobar where they settled and specialised in floriculture.

The Argentine government was friendly with Japan up until the twilight of World War II, when pressure from the United States and the losses by the Axis Powers resulted in loss of diplomatic relations and the Argentine government declaring war against Japan and therefore causing Japanese institutions in the country to close.

[citation needed] There are notable Japanese gardens in Palermo (Buenos Aires) and Belén de Escobar.