Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-11-10
1000 Japanese Women Have
Left Homes in Nippon to
Meet Husbands Here

~ HINK of going out of a home
that has sheltered you all YOU
life and crossing 10000 miles o.
water to meet man you have never
seen, but to whom, within an houl
after your timid, trusting glance rests
upon him, you will be married
Possibly 10000 women in Hawai-
today have had this experience
These women are the japanese pic
ture brides, 1000 or whom have lefl
their homes in Japan within the last
five years to come to Honolulu where
they have met their husbands How
these brides are selected, how they
make the long journey, how they
learn to adjust themselves to 0cci
dental life and manners perhaps nc
one in Honolulu knows better that
does Mrs. Tsue Kishimoto, who, as
an employee of the local Y. w. G. A.
SO eapably looks after the comfort
and moral safety of japanese woiaan
immigrants.
Every boat bringing passengers
from Japan to Honolulu has on it AT
least hundred picture brides, said
Mrs, Kishimoto, quiet, well-posted,
Narnest woman, who speaks better
English than the average American
in Honolulu Some of these women
might be considered very Young girls
for it must be remembered that the
manageable age for Japanese girls
is Is full years, and it is parents
duty, in Japan, to provide husband
for mis- daughter as soon as possible
after she has reached the marriage
able age. To be % and an unmarried
women in Japan is to be an old maid,
which is disgraceful That is why
some of the picture brides who come
here seem to be such children.
These brides are very carefully
chosen by the Imperial Selective Blu
reau. Many of them come from the
best families, not from the nobility,
but from the merchant and student
classes. The Bureau is most parti-
cular. 1t is not easy to get ones
daughter chosen to be picture bride.
1T is like this. When a man in
Hawaii wants a Japanese wife from
Japan, he finds a good friend, some
married man, maybe, who will be his
baishakunin-that word means go-be-
tween; baishakunin is sort of Of
fetal matchmaker. Application is
then made by the haishakunin to the
Imperial Selectiye Bureau, and pho
to graph is sent of the man who wants
wife. Many parents are ready to
have their daughters chosen One
young girl is found, her photograph
is sent to the man in Hawaii, and
she is allowed to see the picture of the
man who may want her for his wife.
III the two, the man and the girl,
like each other when they have seen
the photographs, then the baishaku-
min arranges for the marriage. Not
Many girls in Japan are forced to
marry any man against their will"
Presents are then exchanged be-
tween the pair, the girls parents
sending the man in Hawaii silk, per-:
haps, for a kimono, or the money
with which to purchase something
for himself. This matter of the eX-
change Of presents is very strict in
Japan, and constitutes almost legal
engagement. Due to the great dis
lance, the custom is not SO closely
followed where picture brides are
concerned, the presents being SOM
times deferred until the actual meet,
ing OF the pair. But The presents
are, sooner or later, exchanged.
When the wedding preparations
start in far away japan little Nyoshi
must first have two chests, usually
made of bamboo, one OF two or more
drawers, which is called a tansu, aua
the ether long narrow box, called
a nagamochi Into the tansu must
he put many lifmopos, Of just as fine
material as the family purse will
allow. Sometimes a bride takes with
ber sufficient number Of kimonoG
to last her lifetime The nagome,
Chi must be filled with bed covering.
such as soft, warm blankets, all hem
ned, and often embroidered, by Nyo-
shi's own slim hand. =..l.. ...
Al last Nycshi is ready for the
long journey-she calls 1t nagamichi,
which means a long read, and how
long it is she does not know, for
she has never been on great ship.
and has no idea of the meaning OF
long distancee-but she IS ready, and
if she is afraid she does not say