The Pre-World War II Years
| 1877 |
 |
Manzo Nagano, first Japanese individual known to land and settle
in Canada. Abandoned ship in New Westminster and subsequently ran
a gift shop, Japanese food store and hotel in Victoria, BC. |
| 1887 |
 |
Kuno Gihei visits Canada and returns to Wakayama-ken to recruit
fellow villagers to settle in the village of Steveston. Steveston
becomes the second largest Japanese-Canadian settlement before WWII. |
| 1890s |
 |
Issei, Japanese immigrants, establish stores, boarding houses and
other businesses along the streets adjacent to Hastings Mill, especially
along Powell Street. This neighbourhood becomes the major settlement
of Japanese Canadians until WWII. |
| 1895 |
|
Government of British Columbia denies franchise to citizens of
Asian descent. |
| 1902 |
|
Tomekichi Homma, a naturalized Canadian citizen, applies to be
included on the voters' list. After refusal by the Collector of Voters,
a BC judge declares ultra vires a clause barring Asians from voting
but this decision is overturned by the Privy Council of Britain.
Loses the fight for the franchise and cannot vote, hold public office
or become lawyers, pharmacists, architects, chartered accountants
or teachers. |
| 1904 |
|
Japanese Canadian farmers begin to settle in the Fraser Valley
and establish themselves as successful berry farmers. |
| 1905 |
|
The first Buddhist temple in Canada opens at the Ishikawa Hotel
on Powell Street, Vancouver. |
| 1906 |
|
The first Japanese language school is established in Vancouver
by the Japanese Consulate. |
| 1907 |
 |
Anti-Asian riot in Vancouver. |
| 1908 |
|
The Hayashi-Lemieux “Gentlemen's Agreement” further
restrict Japanese immigration to 400 male immigrants and domestic
servants
per year, plus returning immigrants and their immediate family. “Picture
bride” system of marriage becomes widespread. In 1928, the limit
is reduced further to150 per year. |
| 1914 |
|
Outbreak of World War I. |
| 1916 |
|
After being rejected in BC, approximately 200 issei volunteers
travel to Alberta to join battalions of the Canadian expeditionary
force and are shipped to Europe. In 1917, surviving veterans are
promised the right to vote. |
| 1919 |
|
BC reduces the number of fishing licenses to “other than
white residents”. Over the next five years, licenses to Japanese continue
to be reduced. |
| 1920 |
|
Japanese-Canadian mill-workers form the first Japanese-Canadian
union. |
| 1921 |
|
Asiatic Exclusion League is formed. |
| 1924 & 1928 |
|
Amendment to the “Gentlemen's Agreement”. Japanese immigrants
not to exceed 150 per year. |
| 1927 |
|
Gains affiliation with the Trades and Labour Congress of Canada.
First agricultural producers' cooperative, the Maple Ridge Berry
Growers Co-operative Exchange is organized by YasutaroYamaga. |
| 1929 |
|
Jun Kisawa, an Issei fisher, wins a court battle to overturn restrictions
against Japanese Canadians using motorized fishing boats. |
| 1931 |
|
Remaining WWI veterans finally receive the right to vote and become
the only Japanese Canadians to be enfranchised. |
| 1936 |
 |
Japanese Canadian Citizens League is formed and sends a delegation
to Ottawa to petition for the franchise. The petition is unsuccessful. |
| 1938 |
|
The New Canadian is established as the first English-language Japanese
Canadian newspaper. It becomes the only Japanese Canadian newspaper
allowed to publish during the years of uprooting. |
| 1938-1940 |
|
RCMP kept surveillance on the Japanese community. However, they
recorded no subversive activity. |
| 1939 |
|
Canada declares war with Germany. |
