The Northwest times. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1947-1955, 1950-03-25
This Is Story of Canada Last Half Century

half century. it would be timely to
review the past fifty years which
make up the first half-century from
The japanese Canadian viewpoint
Coincidentally, the story of the
Japanese in Canada has its origin
at about the same time as the begin
ming of this century, for although
The japanese entry into Canada goes
back beyond this period it was not
until after the turn of the century
that japanese immigration to Brit
ish Columbia reached its peak.
The heaviest influx followed the
end of the Russo-Japanese War in
1905. when during the next three or
four years, it is believed that more
thsn 10000 entered Canada. A great
number of these immigrants, how
ever, moved on into the United
States.
Even as early as this period anti
Oriental, particularly anti-Japanese
agitation and movement was at
work. In 1902, the Legislature of
British Columbia passed a measure
disenfranchising its Oriental citi-
zens. which remained in effect until
only years ago Older Issei will
remember the anti Oriental riots of
1907 when a mob led by the anti
Asiatic League rioted in the Chinese
and Japanese sections of Vancouver.
A "Gentlemens Agreement" be-
tween Canada and Japan was nego-
tiated in 1908 whereby the latter
agreed to restrict emigration of its
citizens to Canada. During this per-
od until World War /, the B. c.
Government was continually critical
over the Dominion Government poll
cy in reference to japanese immigra-
ton. The federal government hest
tated to act against the Japanese
partly because of the Anglo-Japan-
csc Alliance.
During the first War, there was no
serious objection to the japanese.
Japan was an ally. Japanese were ac-
cepted in the Canadian army, and
there was a great demand for work
ers
After the war came the second
phase of the Japanese immigration.
The immigrants before the war were
mainly single men who had arrived
in their teens intent upon making a
quick fortune and returning to
Japan. A few did, but the majority
remained in Canada and with the
wartime and postwar boom which
followed, they were in a position
to establish homes and raise families.
Thus in the immediate postwar per-
iod. there was a heavy influx of
Japanese women into Canada
This resulted in the era of the
second generation. the Nisei Exact
ly how many Nisei were born before
World War l is not certain, it would
be safe TO assume that it is much
less than thousand. The majority
of the Nisei were born in the 1905.
according to our rough estimate, be-
tween six to seven thousand. The
peak year of Nisei births is establi-
shed as 1929, and continued we'll into
the thirties when it became a con-
tentious point with anti Japanese
needlers.
The anti-Japanese agitation after
World War l seems to parallel the
) advent of the Nisei for in the hun
cry thirties especially after the Man
churian incident" it was the growth
of the anti-Japanese sentiment
rather than the depression which is
better remembered by the Nisei.
Movement for control of japanese
in industry and business and even
extremist views of patriotic" and
commercial groups.
In the midst of this came the out
break of war in the Pacific and the
subsequent custer and the breakup
of West Coast Japanese communi-
ties The rest is familiar to all of us.
Today at the beginning of another
half-century the outlook has chan
9ed The Nisei is gradually replacing
The ISsei as parents, and this era
will see the rise of another group.
the SanSei. Nor are we shackled or
hampered by discriminatory legis-
latlon or anti-Japanese sentiment.
But what will be our destiny in
he next fifty years, will depend
| greatly on what we make of it.
New Canadian