Exploring Japanese Ethnic Roots through a Developmental Lens

Abstract

In the late 1800’s/early 1900’s many Japanese immigrated to the Northwest to provide farm labor in hopes of eventually owning their own land. Taking advantage of the land of opportunity, Japanese saw independent farming as a means of moving up the economic ladder. In the late 1920’s my maternal grandfather and his brother went to help their uncle on his farm in Central California, raising crops of bell pepper, cabbage, corn and strawberries. As they struggled to survive and make a living, they also maintained their ties to Japan preserving their cultural traditions, values and language. Some second-generation children of immigrants, like my grandmother, were sent back to Japan (Kibei) to learn Japanese language, flower arrangement (ikebana), cooking, calligraphy, and tea ceremony. Japanese Americans strived to reduce discrimination by developing close ties and friendships with their neighbors, maintaining their Japanese heritage, and promoting trade and bartering with diverse ethnic groups.