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Asia Pacífico | Observatorio Parlamentario
Japanese emigration to Chile
12 noviembre 2007
BACKGROUND. Japan began a process of revolutionary social change, economic and political during the 1850s. At the behest of the United States and Europe, it left behind its voluntary confinement (sakoku) that lasted two centuries and decided to use the West’s development model.
BACKGROUND. Japan began a process of revolutionary social change, economic and political during the 1850s. At the behest of the United States and Europe, it left behind its voluntary confinement (sakoku) that lasted two centuries and decided to use the West’s development model.
In less than fifty years Japan passed from feudalism to modernism; but this was at a huge social cost. Industrialization and Western production methods were applied to every field of industry. The masses of peasants and artisans who for generations only performed manual labor, now entered into a state of extreme misery. Faced with this reality, the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation signed with various countries allowed immigration. Dekasegi, or labor migration, began. In 1868 Hawaii opened its doors to Japanese families. In 1868 the U.S., in 1897 Mexico, in 1899 Peru, etc.
In September 1897 Japan signed the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation with Chile. In 1904, the Transoceanic Emigration Company began efforts to bring Japanese emigrants to Chile. But all the efforts being made throughout the years ended in total failure. Chilean stereotypes regarding Asian contributed to this failure. In addition, Chile has always welcomed European immigrants, a policy which had the support of the elite, ruling class.
INFORMAL DEKASEGI IN CHILE. Despite the circumstances, there is an early presence of Japanese in Chile. The 1875 census recorded 2 Japanese. In 1907, there were 209, including the first 5 women. In 1940, their total number reached 948.
These Japanese had arrived one by one through an informal dekasegi, i.e., traveling on their own and with their own resources. But arriving on land in Chile was no easy task. They not only had to address language and lifestyle changes, but also had to compete with the waves of European immigrants, who had begun to arrive beforehand.
Hence, they were dispersed geographically early on throughout the country (except in Chiloé and Magallanes), working in the most disparate occupations (over 40 different types). For the Japanese, all honest work is dignified. In general, these early independent immigrants were sons of families with certain privileges: farmers, prosperous merchants, officials, former samurai, etc. Educationally, most had at least a high school education or technical/university degrees.
NIKKEI FAMILIES IN CHILE. On average, after 10 years they began to build families. A minority will look for a wife in Japan or via correspondence. Most fail to gather the necessary resources to do so and marry Chilean women. Thus, the Chilean Nikkei is born (Japanese descents born in Chile).
Their economic achievements were not spectacular; in fact, this was never their goal. They are located within the middle class but with respect and recognition in their respective communities. Thinking about the future of the family, their lives are committed to educating their children.
Isolated from their homeland of origin, there is the most remote of possibilities of returning to it. A lack of any formal support group to validate their culture within the household and the huge influence of local culture, leads them to say, "If we must live in Chile, let’s become Chileans." Children (nisei) lose at least 50% of the culture brought by their fathers. Grandchildren (sansei) lose nearly 80%.
By the 1990s, and there are no nikkei who are not at least high school educated. A significant percentage work as professionals. Only 2% work as laborers. Adolescent Nikkei, on the whole, aim at higher education and over 60% of these young people are university students.
In less than fifty years Japan passed from feudalism to modernism; but this was at a huge social cost. Industrialization and Western production methods were applied to every field of industry. The masses of peasants and artisans who for generations only performed manual labor, now entered into a state of extreme misery. Faced with this reality, the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation signed with various countries allowed immigration. Dekasegi, or labor migration, began. In 1868 Hawaii opened its doors to Japanese families. In 1868 the U.S., in 1897 Mexico, in 1899 Peru, etc.
In September 1897 Japan signed the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation with Chile. In 1904, the Transoceanic Emigration Company began efforts to bring Japanese emigrants to Chile. But all the efforts being made throughout the years ended in total failure. Chilean stereotypes regarding Asian contributed to this failure. In addition, Chile has always welcomed European immigrants, a policy which had the support of the elite, ruling class.
INFORMAL DEKASEGI IN CHILE. Despite the circumstances, there is an early presence of Japanese in Chile. The 1875 census recorded 2 Japanese. In 1907, there were 209, including the first 5 women. In 1940, their total number reached 948.
These Japanese had arrived one by one through an informal dekasegi, i.e., traveling on their own and with their own resources. But arriving on land in Chile was no easy task. They not only had to address language and lifestyle changes, but also had to compete with the waves of European immigrants, who had begun to arrive beforehand.
Hence, they were dispersed geographically early on throughout the country (except in Chiloé and Magallanes), working in the most disparate occupations (over 40 different types). For the Japanese, all honest work is dignified. In general, these early independent immigrants were sons of families with certain privileges: farmers, prosperous merchants, officials, former samurai, etc. Educationally, most had at least a high school education or technical/university degrees.
NIKKEI FAMILIES IN CHILE. On average, after 10 years they began to build families. A minority will look for a wife in Japan or via correspondence. Most fail to gather the necessary resources to do so and marry Chilean women. Thus, the Chilean Nikkei is born (Japanese descents born in Chile).
Their economic achievements were not spectacular; in fact, this was never their goal. They are located within the middle class but with respect and recognition in their respective communities. Thinking about the future of the family, their lives are committed to educating their children.
Isolated from their homeland of origin, there is the most remote of possibilities of returning to it. A lack of any formal support group to validate their culture within the household and the huge influence of local culture, leads them to say, "If we must live in Chile, let’s become Chileans." Children (nisei) lose at least 50% of the culture brought by their fathers. Grandchildren (sansei) lose nearly 80%.
By the 1990s, and there are no nikkei who are not at least high school educated. A significant percentage work as professionals. Only 2% work as laborers. Adolescent Nikkei, on the whole, aim at higher education and over 60% of these young people are university students.
