Small Community, Big Influence: Japanese Culture Flourishes in Belize

Belize’s Japanese community may be small, but their cultural footprint is anything but. From the flavors we enjoy, and the martial arts practiced across the country, to the art, fashion, and the exploding popularity of anime and manga, Japanese culture has woven itself into Belizean life in surprising and inspiring ways. For one young Belizean, Tyler Ramirez, that influence started early and sparked a deep passion for manga. So, News Five’s Sabreena Daly set out to explore what makes manga so special, and why its fan base in Belize keeps growing. Here’s this week’s Bright Side.

 

Sabreena Daly, Reporting

In Belize, the Japanese community numbers fewer than fifty people, a tiny fraction of the population but their influence is seen in local cuisine, martial arts, art, fashion, and especially in the growing love for anime and manga. One Belizean artist inspired by that culture is twenty-five-year-old Tyler Ramirez, who discovered his passion for anime as a young boy and has since pursued it through his work as an entrepreneur and manga artist.

Tyler Ramirez, Manga Artist

“ When I first started, I started drawing with just a pencil and typing sheet. That was it. And I would take it to the print store and get it scanned. And then gladly, I had a computer, I finished the texturing and text on, on a digital software.”

 

Manga is a style of Japanese comic books and graphic novels, known for its detailed artwork and storytelling that spans every genre imaginable. Often serving as the source for popular anime, it’s a medium where artists like Tyler Ramirez can bring characters and stories to life, blending imagination with culture.

Tyler Ramirez

“ It takes a lot of research. So normally the way I would do it is I would plan out the chapters. And then from planning out the chapter, I would take it into dialogues, and then from dialogues I would work on the first draft, which would be the storyboard for the series.”

 

Now fully at home in Belize, Asako Solis says she’s loved embracing local culture while seeing her own warmly welcomed in return.

 

Asako Solis, Member, Japanese Community

“ That’s actually what Belize taught me. It has the Mestizo culture, the creole culture, Maya culture, Garifuna culture. They have all enriched my life. And I appreciate that the people were open-minded to accept my culture as well.”

Tyler Ramirez

“ I think the thing that’s very unique about anime and the community itself is the relatability to the characters. For example, when you’re watching an anime and you see a character that you know matches your vibe, similar to you as a person in your everyday life, you tend to be drawn to them. Also, the fan base of anime itself tends to be drawn to each other because of the love for the character or the anime series.”

 

Martinez may have found inspiration at home. Animaniacs Belize is an online community for anime and Japanese culture lovers. What started with just twenty members has grown into nearly three thousand, led by its president, Eden Cruz.

 

Eden Cruz, President, Animaniacs Belize

“The influence of Manga to Belizeans is very inspirational because manga contains various types of stories like Slice of Life. We have action, adventure, romance. It’s for the young, like children up to adult series, a wide range. And that inspiration that people read, these mangas from Japan have turned a lot of artists in Belize and people who like painting or drawing, that eventually evolved into creating stories. In the group besides Tyler, we have a variety of artists from illustrators to people who create comics. So people who just do a little drawing and then they post it up in a group and we appreciate their art.”

 

In 2025, the young artist took a bold step, submitting his work to the prestigious Silent Manga Auditions, also known as SMA. While he didn’t place, Ramirez says the experience of sharing his art on an international stage gave him perspective, motivation, and a sense of what’s possible for Belizean artists.

Tyler Ramirez

“The reason I participated in the SMA was for exposure. Of course all artists want exposure. And also the reward is just a bonus. You can also, once you win a contest, get your book published or your one shot published in Japan. And, those were some perks that I was looking forward to as well. It was an amazing experience because the judges also write to you and share where you need to improve on and what needs to be fixed for the next submission. So I’m looking forward to joining the next SMA contest.”

 

Ramirez’s work is part of a growing movement that sees art as more than a hobby. And as he keeps creating, leaders at Animaniacs Belize say local talent has the power to open doors both at home and abroad, inspiring the next generation of Belizean artists to dream bigger and build careers right here.

Eden Cruz

“These artists can also utilize their talents not only for hobbies, but international contests. Maybe that can be their work. Maybe they can be illustrators for organizations in Belize. And hopefully I would hope that Belize in general appreciates these artists because that will inspire them to go further.  One day we can have somebody who’s an animator.”

 

Asako Solis

“Manga is not only for here, only for Belize or Japan, it’s worldwide. Same as music, or arts, manga can be shared to the world.”

Tyler Ramirez

“ My goal is to actually eventually open an artist village here in Belize. But I also need the experience. So this is the reason why I keep striving to become better, so that I could also be an instructor here in Belize for the artist village when I do achieve that goal.”

Looking on the Bright Side, I’m Sabreena Daly.