Post #1

               During the 1870’s many Japanese migrated to Hawaii. They were farmers and farm laborers that had to suffer through many hardships because of envy and prejudice. Even though they had to start from the bottom, it didn’t take long for them to work their way up to success.

Many Japanese moved to Hawaii during the 1870’s and 1880’s because of the rise of the sugar industry, not just because Japan’s transition to the modern economy caused a lot of unemployment and bankruptcies. They wanted to reach the U.S. in search for more opportunities and a better life. The ones who settled on the mainland settled more on the West of the country (i.e. California).

Many of the first Japanese immigrants were men who were recruited to work on the fields. They had a hard time trying to make their new home have some elements from their traditional culture. Thousands of Japanese women moved to the U.S. after 1907 to reunite with their husbands or to marry. Many of the women who immigrated had arranged marriages.   

The Japanese were able to succeed rapidly after having just arrived to the U.S. They became successful farmers, fruit growers, fishermen, and small businessmen since they could achieve a lot with little given.  Many Americans were so envious of the Japanese’ achievements that prejudice grew and there were laws restricting the rights of the Japanese, including laws that denied Japanese citizenship and the rights to own land.

The Japanese suffered through a lot when they reached America. They had to start from the bottom but were able to succeed rapidly. Their rapid success caused more racial prejudice to be born and restriction laws to be written. Even though they went through many hardships, they were able to withstand them and be successful.