A Community Takes Root: A Brief History of Japanese Americans In Seattle…

A Brief History of Japanese Americans In Seattle….

The Japanese community on the West Coast blossomed in the early 20th century, despite hostility directed at Asian immigrants in the United States. The Chinese population remained mostly male and single due to discriminatory immigration policies, but the law allowed Japanese men to bring their wives into the country between 1907 and 1924. Thousands of Japanese women came as “picture brides” during this period. These women and their husbands raised families, and ran family farms and family businesses. Their children were U.S. citizens by birth.

[Captions:]

Shungo and Mitsu Hirabayashi, 1914. Courtesy of Esther Furugori.

Hirabayashi Family, 1934. Gordon is on the left in the back row. Courtesy of Esther Furugori.

1913 Postcard featuring the Japanese ship Tamba Maru, which brought Japanese immigrants to the West Coast. Message describes the sender’s arrival in Victoria, B.C. Courtesy of the Wing Luke Museum.

Mitsu Suzawa Hirabayashi, 1915. Courtesy of Esther Furugori.

Japanese immigrants arriving by ship. Kirie (Japanese paper cut) image by Aki Sogabe, from hisgtoric photograph courtesy of Leslie Morishita. . This historical marker is in Downtown Seattle in King County Washington