The first Japanese are believed to have arrived on the Hawaiian Islands in A.D. 1258 as "drifters." It is thought that their ship might have been blown off course but Hawaii was not their destination. It is believed that the Japanese may have been responsible for introducing sugar cane to Hawaii long before Captain Cook arrived in 1788. The drifters remained on the islands and may have eventually married island royalty, and therefore producing "fair skinned" natives.
It was 500 plus years that no contact between the Hawaiians and Japanese was ever recorded or written. Then in 1868, the Japanese immigration began. By 1924, 180,000 Japanese had migrated to Hawaii from mainly Southern Japan. The Japanese were the largest immigrant group to Hawaii. The sugar plantation recruiters painted a rosy picture of Hawaiian labor opportunities. They were told that by signing a three year contract, they could save four-hundred yen (about $340) in three years. A mill worker in Japan could save that amount only after ten years of hard working a saving money. Almost every Japanese immigrant saw this job offer as temporary and hoped by working hard and saving money they could return to Japan with wealth and distinction. Wages were low and crop failures were high in Japan so job offers made by the owners of sugar plantations seemed promising. However, when issei (first generation Japanese to Hawaii) came, the conditions were far from what they had been told. In 1892, the Japanese made up more than sixty five percent of the workforce, but received the lowest wages and poorest houses. In the fields, the lunas (foremen) kept a watchful eye on the workers. They used whips to force them into putting out the greatest amount of labor. After money was earned, many first and second born sons went back to Japan to continue their stay in the family structure. There were many who couldn't afford financially to return to Japan.
Almost one half of the
immigrants did return to Japan but not for the reason
they planned. Working on the sugar plantations was
very tough and harsh and only the strong survived.
Some of the Japanese immigrants fled the plantations and
settled on various islands.
An immigrant
school in Maui.
Those who chose to remain
working on the plantation worked 10 hour days. Some
plantations were better than others. Back then, the
crop workers each brought a plate filled with homemade
food from their own ethnic background.
Overlooking a
plantation in Hawaii.
The issei had to adapt to the conditions of plantation life. They were cut, carried, hauled and hoed in the fields. It was dusty and dry, and very muddy when it rained. They kept some of their tradition, but learned quickly from other ethnic groups. For example, they originally wore kimonos, but soon that adapted into kasuri (indigo dyed fabric) jackets, and woven lauhala (dried pandanus leaves) hats. They had very little money to spend, so they used the materials they had.The plantation company provided homes for the Japanese workers. In the neighborhood, there was a barber shop, a tofu shop, and a commmunity bath house. Trading was also done. People traded eggs and vegetables. Single men ate at the community kitchen or sometimes joined one of the families. They also could have the clothes washed and mended. Within the houses, there were Buddhist altars, bedding (mattress and blanket on the floor), and a chest (tansu) to store clothing and other personal items. There was a kerosene stove, a food safe, dishes, pots, pans, a hibachi and low tables for eating.
The Japanese immigrants included more women than the Chinese or Filipinos. In 1890, women made up about nineteen percent of the Japanese population in Hawaii. As their labor contracts expired, some of the issei men returned to Japan to find wives. However, others found "picture brides" or arranged marriages by their families. By 1920, the percentage of Japanese women had grown forty six percent. Because of this, in 1921, the Japanese government stopped giving passports to picture brides.
When Hawaii became a territory of the United States in 1898 Congress passed the Organic Act, nullifying contract labor immigration. Because of the sudden freedom more than 68,300 Japanese immigrants came to Hawaii between 1900-1907. They were no longer forced to work under contracts and had the freedom to seek higher wages. Soon many left for the West Coast of the United States. Fishery operations, canneries and agriculture jobs offered a daily wage of $1.25 to $1.35 as compared to 69 cents that they were making in Hawaii. Eventually many Japanese immigrants ventured off and started their own business with their life savings. Many became very successful. Japanese temples, schools, restaurants, and stores were built. Traditions and activities were practiced such as the Bon Dance, flower arranging, tea ceremony, and various sports.
By the time the second generation emerged the American ways had influenced the Nisei (second generation). They struggled between the American culture and the Japanese tradition. The Japanese language was spoken less and English became their first language. However, most nisei attended Japanese language schools in the afternoon hours, which followed regular public school. Although many nisei did not want to attend, most of their parents believed that while American public schools could provide academic and physical education, the moral education of traditional Japanese education was taught at Japanese schools. These themes included-respect for parents, elders and ancestors, harmony between parents, loyalty, responsibility, friendship, trust and humility.
In the 1930s, the Japanese Americans operated nearly half of Honolulu's retail businesses. They left the plantations to enter the fields of fishing, carpentry, plumbing, painting, tailoring, restaurants, barbering, retail and independent farming. Later, they played prominent roles in truck farming, pineapple, rice and coffee agriculture. The issei could not enter professional fields because they could not afford to continue their education after high school. However, some Japanese Americans went into teaching. Of the one hundred seventy four secondary teachers enrolled at the University of Hawaii in 1928, thirty three percent were Japanese Americans. Nursing was also another popular profession. This was because training, housing and small stipends were provided by the Japanese Hospital in exchange for work. Even though professional opportunities were limited, some Japanese Americans were still able to succeed. For example, in 1930, there were 106 dentists, 83 physicians, 75 teachers and 22 lawyers.
Sports were an important part of the Japanese American experience. Some of the sports they participated in were boxing, swimming, baseball and barefoot football. Reverend Takie Okumura established the first AJA (Americans of Japanese Ancestry) baseball team.
Niseis were already serving in America's military during the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the Japanese in 1941. Because of the incident, they were no longer allowed to be a part of the military. However, 1432 Japanese American men became the 100th Battalion. Based on their performance, the U.S. War Department put a call out to 1,500 AJAs to enlist in the army. Nearly 10,000 rushed to join.
They trained at Camp McCoy in Wisconsin. The 100th Battalion fought for five months in Italy and were down to 521 men. Five months later, they had suffered another loss of three hundred and six hundred fifty wounded. The 100th were awarded 1,703 Purple Hearts. Later, the 100th was joined with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Their motto became "Go for Broke!" In the Battle of the Lost Battalion, they courageously rescued a Texas battalion. They suffered 800 casualties to rescue 211 men.
By the end of W.W.II, the Japanese American soldiers suffered the highest casualty rate of any unit in the entire history of the United States Army. More than 700 men had been killed. They received 18,143 individual decorations for valor and seven Presidential Unit Citations. The 442nd and 100th was the most decorated unit in American history.
Today, the Japanese
traditions live on. On New Year's Day, the Japanese
people still celebrate with the symbolic foods and the
house cleaning before the New Year. Another
important event is Bon Festival and Lantern Floating
Festival held in July and August. Girls Day and
Boys Day, Cherry Blossom Festival and Shinto Thanksgiving
Festival are some of the other events that the Japanese
celebrate annually.
Carp (Koi)
flags fly on Girls and Boys Day.
The Japanese people proved to be loyal and proud of their heritage and tradition throughout the centuries.
Japanese history overview
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2126.html
Timeline of Japanese history
http://www.askasia.org/frclasrm/readings/t000013.htm
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