Occupations
Like many early pioneers arriving in southern Alberta in the early 1900s, Japanese people found work as labourers on farms, constructing railroads, working in mines and as cooks and domestic servants. A few started businesses when they first arrived, labourers saved their earnings so they could buy farms or start their own businesses.
Dallas Hotel staff, Lethbridge, Alberta, ca. 1910 - 1912. Yoichi (Harry) Hironaka on the far right and Mr. Zenkichi (James) Shimbashi on far left. Others include Linda Carr, Adeline Johnson, Nellie Finnie, and James Gibbons.
Galt Museum & Archives, 19790275047.
Come Home in Glory
The promise to hana wo sakasete kaitekoi(come home in glory) was a strong motivating factor for Japanese Canadians to succeed. Japanese immigrants became quickly known for being hard workers. To “have glory” could mean amassing wealth or achieving success through education or any worthy accomplishment.
The Japanese who first came to Canada were mostly young, energetic, adventurous men with ambitious hopes. They initially settled along the coast of British Columbia. Some found how they were treated was harsh and moved to Alberta. Alberta offered no better opportunities for quick wealth. Taking what work was available, they sought to make a success of themselves so that they might fulfill their promise.
Members of the Farmer's Company, 1916. Front row left to right: Isa Koyato, Saki Kosaka, Moto Sugimoto, Mrs Tobo. Back row left to right: H. Kojun Iwaasa (assisted in formation of company), Shoichi Tobo, Kisaburo Sugimoto, Tanesaburo Kosaka, Takejiro Koyata.
Galt Museum & Archives, 19800016003.
Sugar Beet Farmers
The Japanese first came to southern Alberta as sugar beet farm labourers or to work in sugar beet factories.
In 1903, about 20 Japanese came to work at the Raymond sugar beet factory. Another 400 Japanese came to the Raymond area in 1908 to work on beet farms.
This provided them valuable experience in farming methods, and prepared them for success later in their own farming.
Beet Knife, ca 1935-1945.
Galt Museum & Archives, 20020087000.
Beet Knife
Beet knives were specially designed to do two jobs. The pick was used to lift the beet off the ground and the blade was used to slice off the leaves.
Additional information for this item is available on the Galt Museum & Archives website.
Construction crew on the High Level Bridge, Lethbridge, 1908-1909.
Galt Museum & Archives, 20021037002.
Railroad Labourers
Railroad construction was another source of employment. The Canadian Nippon Supply Company provided Japanese work crews to work on the railroads, employing up to 600 men to help build and repair railroads in southern Alberta.
Records indicate that Anno Makishi was one of the first Japanese from Okinawa to come to Canada in 1900. He worked on the construction of the High Level Bridge in Lethbridge which was completed in 1909.
Japanese workers were so hard-working that other labourers felt threatened by them. In 1909, Japanese were finally allowed to join the United Mine Workers of America, District 18.
Men removing impurities on the picking belt, Lethbridge, ca 1940.
Galt Museum & Archives, 19760210105.
Coal Miners
The coal mines attracted a number of workers from mainland Japan and the island of Okinawa.
Jiro Irei was the first Japanese who worked for the Galt coal mines in Hardieville, north of Lethbridge. At first, most were single men who came to make quick money. By the 1920s, families began settling into mining towns, including Coalhurst, Diamond City, Staffordville and Lethbridge.
The Japanese seldom went into the mines because underground workers were paid better wages and those jobs were reserved for others. Instead they worked in the boiler rooms, or cleaned around the surface buildings and structures. Many Japanese mine employees worked only during the winter, and farmed during the summer.
Left to right: Prince Edward, Mrs. Teru Shimbashi with infant Edward, and Mr. Zenkichi (James) Shimbashi at the EP (Edward Prince) Ranch west of High River, Alberta, 1925.
Galt Museum & Archives, 19790255002.
Cooks and Domestics
It was not unusual for Japanese Canadians to work in the service industry. The Issei found work in restaurants, as cooks, or in hotels, as housekeepers.
Harry Yoichi Hironaka was head cook at the Dallas Hotel for a number of years.
It was also respectable for Japanese Canadians to work as domestics. James Zenkichi Shimbashi, who had also worked as a cook at the Dallas Hotel, worked as a cook on the ranch owned by Edward, Prince of Wales.
Many other Japanese Canadians worked as household help throughout the region.
Store in Fort Macleod, Alberta, ca 1916. Left to right: Kanejiro Fujita (Makoo-no-Oji-san or "Mister from Macleod"), Shizu Fujita (Makoo-no-Oba-san or "Mrs from Macleod"), Mrs. Kiku Kamo, Mr. Denzo Kamo, Mr. Ohno, a relative of the Kamon’s on the right end.
Photo courtesy of Toshiko Tanaka.
Businesses
Few Issei had the financial means to open their own businesses.
There were some exceptions, including the Sawadas who ran a pool hall and a hotel; the Oshiros who ran the Togo Café; Harry Hironaka and James Shimbashi who ran a café all in Raymond.
In 1916, the Fujitas arrived in Fort Macleod from Cranbrook, British Columbia. They acquired a wooden building from Mr. and Mrs. Kamo, which housed a small restaurant, a confectionary, and boarding rooms upstairs. They named their restaurant “The Sunrise Café” and operated it until 1946. TheFujitas were well remembered in Fort Macleod for hosting an annual New Year’s party to thank their patrons for their business.
Abacus used as an early form of calculator, 1940.
Galt Museum & Archives, P19800006000.
Abacus
Additional information for this item is available on the Galt Museum & Archives website.