Colonisation Japonaise au Perou

Collection

Identifier: SPC-2020-011

Staff Only

Selected digital reproductions of items from the Colonisation Japonaise au Perou

Scope and Contents

Colonisation Japonaise au Perou (1930-1950) contains one photograph album compiled by a Japanese Peruvian family. The photographs depict the daily events and the everyday people within the Japanese Peruvian community during that time, such as possibly newly arriving immigrants coming to Peru from Japan, surrounding landscapes, men's club activities, a group of people looking at a small airplane, plantation workers, the Asahi men's baseball team, and more. Also included are portraits of families, groups, and individual people.

Dates

1930-1950

Language of Materials

The title of the photo album is written in French.

Conditions Governing Access

There are no access restrictions on this collection.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Archives and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical materials and not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

History of the Japanese Diaspora in Peru

During the late 1800s, Japan was experiencing a stagnating economy, poor living conditions, exponential population growth, and high unemployment. This recession motivated many Japanese people to search elsewhere, such as the United States, the Kingdom of Hawai'i, Brazil, and Peru, for work as well as a better life[1]. In 1898, some 790 Japanese men that were predominately from poor farming backgrounds and who were between the ages of 20 and 45 immigrated to Peru first and were hired as cheap contract laborers on coastal plantations where their hope was to save enough money for the return home upon termination of their four-year contracts[2]. Having been unable to save enough money, many ultimately stayed, migrated to the cities, and opened small business. Although they constitute only 0.3 percent of Peru’s population, the country today has the second largest ethnic Japanese diaspora in South America after Brazil[3].

[1] Takenaka, Ayumi. "The Japanese in Peru: History of Immigration, Settlement, and Racialization." Latin American Perspectives 31, no. 3 (2004): 77-98. Accessed May 6, 2020. www.jstor.org/stable/3185184. Pg. 81.

[2] Takenaka, Ayumi. Pg. 77.

[3] Takenaka, Ayumi. Pg. 77.

Extent

1 box (1 photo album, 31 pages)

1.29 Linear Feet

Additional Description

Abstract

This collection contains one photo album complied by a Japanese Peruvian family in which the photos depict the daily occurances and the people of the Japanese Peruvian community from 1930 to 1950. Most of the items in this collection have been digitized and are available online.

Acquisition Information

Library acquisition.

Availability of Digital Reproductions

Most of the items in this collection have been digitized and digital reproduction access files (access derivatives) are available at the CSU Japanese American Digitization Project site: Colonisation Japonaise au Perou Digital Collection

CSU Japanese American Digitization Project

This collection is part of the California State University Japanese American Digitization Project. Other collections about the history of Japanese Americans are found in the digital repository: CSU Japanese American Digitization Project

General

The entire title of the photo album, "Colonisation Japonaise au Perou: immigration au Perou: colonisation Japonaise sous la foret centrale Amazonienne, 1930-1950", is written in French and translates as "Japanese colonization in Peru: immigration to Peru: Japanese colonization under the Amazonian central forest, 1930-1950".

Digital Reproductions

The Gerth Archives and Special Collections derived born-analog objects (digital reproductions) from original items for long-term preservation and access, adhering to best practice and standards to ensure the authenticity, integrity, and security of material. For more information on digitization production, please see CSU Japanese American Digitization Project technical reference guide.

The set of digital reproduction preservation files is stored on the Gerth Archives and Special Collections’ department drive for both preservation purposes and duplication requests.

The set of access files (access derivatives) was created for the digital management system and is stored on the Gerth Archives and Special Collections' department external drive for staff use.