The Nakamura family was one of the first to arrive in Brazil during World War II. Many Japanese people chose the Liberdade neighborhood in São Paulo to start their new lives, and that’s where Frank grew up. Despite being born in Brazil, Frank’s mother lived her entire life immersed in Japanese culture, speaking with an accent and cooking according to her ancestors’ recipes. It was this talent that,during a difficult moment, presented an opportunity for her to set up a stall in the still small LiberdadeFair. Initially, Mrs. Nakamura’s basic clientele consisted of the Japanese living in the neighborhood, but in the late 1980s, many descendants returned to their parents’ and grandparents’ homeland. Consequently, the family had to adapt the gyoza recipe to suit Brazilian tastes. Thus, the Nakamura family’s gyoza, adapted to local demands, is slightly larger than the traditional version and uses equal proportions of pork and beef. The success of this delicacy is such that the stall has sold up to 6,000 units in a single weekend.