The Northwest times. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1947-1955, 1949-01-01
WRITER RECORDS BACKGROUND
OF TACOMA JAPANESE PEOPLE
By KIM FUJIMOTO

Tacoma. county seat of Pierce
county. similar to other cities on
the west coast. also had settle
ment of japanese from the very
early frontier days. and parallel
with the city's development, 1t pro-
crossed into becoming a well estab-
lished society. In accordance with
the general pattern of Japanese set
Element this community also in
wolves three distinct phases: the
pioneer. settling down, and second
generation phases.
japanese immigrants first coming
to Tacoma found it still to be In
its pioneer stage. and like all other
frontier settlements. workers were
much in demand. Many of the i'm
migrants were, therefore, readily
welcomed into saw mill camps,
farms and in homes as domestic
helpers. At this time, the popula-
ton was composed mainly of the
laboring class, almost all of whom
were anxious only to accumulate
enough savings and then to return
back to their country.
These laborers found residence
in camps or in low-rent hotels in
the less desirable parts of the
city, and as their savings accu-
INFLATED, they began to open small
shops. hotels, restaurants. and
other service centers that could
cater to the needs Of q large po-
pulation Of single men in Tacoma
at that time. This Is, in brief. the
pioneer" phase of settlement.
The second phase. the settling
down" period began when the i'm
migrants decided upon marriage
and encouraged by the rapid head
ways made during the prosperous
days following the World War
started to establish their own homes
This second phase, however, was
short Lived AS the immigrants con-
tinued to show signs of becoming
successful in their business and q
definite threat in the labor market
THE ever increasing immigrants
from the Orient became the source
of much dispute and opposition. FL
nally, the brewing hostile feeling
reached its boiling point with thu
passage of the Alien Land Law ant
the Immigration Acts of 1924. Man,
of them licked by disappointment
returned TO Japan, but others whit
remained excepted their restriction
and became increasingly engrosset
with the future of their children
and the years from 1924 to the pre-
sent are referred MS the second
generation phase of settlement.
Although similar in desire an
hope as the immigrants who crosse
the other mighty ocean. the Allan
tic, the Oriental immigrants differe
not only in physical appearance bu
also in their social values, attitude
and customs. Since American Gus
toms and cultures have evolve
from Europe. European immigrant
coming to America found certai
fundamental resemblsnces in the
new surroundings to that of thei
old country; however, those crossin
the Pacific, the Oriental immi
grants coming from a totally dif
ferent civilization. faced an entirel
unfamiliar surroundings
| Among many of the contrast
; ing things among the Eastern and
Western civilization, one is their
difference in social organization
, The Western social order empha.
sizes the individual" where as
J the Eastern, the family" or ths
unit" AS Henry Pratt Fairchilt
states in his Immigrant Back.
, ground" "the West offers tn,
world its masterpiece The indivi
: dual, and the East presents its fin
ished products, the family"
Through their inherent feelir
of thoroughness in organization ar
! strong tendency towards unity. Il
immigrants formed such groups
the national association of Japanes
> prefectural clubs, business. religio
y and social organizations. These o
u oanizations not only provided mea
u of social security, mutual aid. al
: social enjoyment, but also means
X social control and order Their su
" cess and ready response to gro
conformity and control can be mo
easily seen when one considers t
fact that as with practically
other groups of immigrants. the j
panese have also found residence
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