Arrival

Labor contractors transported workers from Japan to work on Hawaiian sugar plantations. Many Japanese then emigrated to the mainland and worked for lumber companies, railroads, and canneries. In the early 1900s these immigrants began to establish families through the picture bride system (shashin-kekkon, literally "photograph marriage"). Immigrant bachelors sent photographs and information about themselves to go-betweens (baishakunin) who arranged meetings with the families in Japan. Marriage ceremonies took place in Japan (without bridegrooms), then the new brides traveled to the United States to join their husbands. Many arrived to discover that their husbands had misrepresented their appearances or situations.

Immigration and citizenship (431)
Arrival (199)

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199 items

vh Tom Matsuoka Segment 2 (ddr-densho-1000-47-2)

Father recruited to work in Hawaiian sugarcane fields

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-47-2/

vh May Ota Higa Interview Segment 3 (ddr-densho-1000-174-3)

Mother's reluctance to immigrate to U.S., resourcefulness upon arrival

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-174-3/

vh May Ota Higa Interview Segment 1 (ddr-densho-1000-174-1)

Father's immigration story: illegally entering U.S. as a contract laborer

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-174-1/

vh Elsie Uyematsu Osajima Segment 1 (ddr-densho-1000-451-1)

Parents' family backgrounds: father immigrated to the United States as a student

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-451-1/

vh Kenji Ima Interview Segment 3 (ddr-densho-1000-495-3)

Father's immigration to the U.S.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-495-3/

vh Jimi Yamaichi Segment 1 (ddr-densho-1000-106-1)

Family's arrival in the U.S., early jobs as fruit picker, houseboy

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-106-1/

vh Ron Wakabayashi Segment 1 (ddr-densho-1000-460-1)

Father's immigration story: jumping ship and crossing into the U.S. on foot

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-460-1/

vh Yae Wada Segment 1 (ddr-densho-1000-476-1)

Father's family background: establishing a laundry business

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-476-1/

vh Fumiko M. Noji Segment 2 (ddr-densho-1000-72-2)

Father's arrival in United States, working in a lumber camp

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-72-2/

vh Yasashi Ichikawa Interview I Segment 10 (ddr-densho-1000-111-10)

First impressions of Hawaii and San Francisco: relief at being allowed to use chopsticks (Japanese language)

This interview was conducted in Japanese. The transcript is a translation of the original interview.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-111-10/

vh Tokio Hirotaka - Toshio Ito - Joe Matsuzawa Segment 3 (ddr-densho-1000-23-3)

Family background, Toshio Ito: father's arrival in the United States, working odd jobs in Seattle

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-23-3/

vh Junkoh Harui Segment 1 (ddr-densho-1000-11-1)

Orphaned and without work, father immigrates to Bainbridge Island, Washington and the "largest mill in the world..."

This interview was done outdoors in the Bainbridge Gardens Nursery which resulted in increased background noise and frequent interruptions by the business P.A. system.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-11-1/

vh Roger Shimomura Interview Segment 3 (ddr-densho-1000-142-3)

Grandmother's arrival in U.S. as a "picture bride"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-142-3/

vh Frank Konishi Interview Segment 27 (ddr-manz-1-25-27)

Grandfather's travels to the United States from South America, description of homemade senbei maker

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-1-25-27/

vh Midori Suzuki - Sanzui A. Takaha Interview Segment 4 (ddr-manz-1-173-4)

Mother's arrival in the U.S. through Angel Island, California

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-1-173-4/

vh Midori Suzuki - Sanzui A. Takaha Interview Segment 3 (ddr-manz-1-173-3)

Father's arrival in the U.S.: establishing an embroidery studio

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-1-173-3/

vh Lois Shikami Interview Segment 2 (ddr-chi-1-8-2)

Parents' family backgrounds

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-chi-1-8-2/

vh Mas Takano Interview Segment 1 (ddr-ajah-1-5-1)

Family background: immigration to San Francisco

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-1-5-1/

vh Kay Uno Kaneko - Hana Shepard - Mae Matsuzaki Interview Segment 7 (ddr-densho-1007-8-7)

Father's early life in the United States

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-8-7/