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Objectives. Ethnic background interferes on the prevalence of asthma among schoolchildren (4 to 9 years old, SC) born and living in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Methods. International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Childhood (ISAAC)'s written standard and complementary questionnaires were applied to SC (similar socioeconomic status) living in the city of Sao Paulo: no-Japanese Brazilian (NJB, N = 306) and Japanese Brazilian (third generation, born in Brazil, from Japanese families with no miscegenation, JB, N = 258). Results. The prevalence of current asthma was significantly higher among NJB in comparison to JB (22.2% vs 14.7%, respectively). To have rhinitis and to exercise less than once/week were risk factors for both groups of children. Conclusion. Although both groups were apparently exposed to the same environment, other cultural differences do not allow us to conclude about the ethnic component having greater influence than the environment in the development of asthma in these individuals. Univ Santo Amaro, Sao Paulo, Brazil Fed Univ Sao Paulo EPM UNIFESP, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Pediat, Div Allergy Clin Immunol & Rheumatol, Sao Paulo, Brazil ABCs Fac Med, Dept Pediat, Sao Paulo, Brazil EPM UNIFESP, Div Allergy Clin Immunol & Rheumatol, Dept Pediat, Sao Paulo, Brazil Univ Nove Julho UNINOVE, Sao Paulo, Brazil Fed Univ Sao Paulo EPM UNIFESP, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Pediat, Div Allergy Clin Immunol & Rheumatol, Sao Paulo, Brazil EPM UNIFESP, Div Allergy Clin Immunol & Rheumatol, Dept Pediat, Sao Paulo, Brazil Web of Science