Japanese immigrants were subjected to work in abysmal conditions in comparison to the Chinese. In contrast to Chinese immigrants, the Issei (Japanese Immigrants) were well educated upon their arrival to California. Japanese immigrants viewed themselves as the ‘superior race above all Asians’. This portrayal was an influential factor that spawned the inception of the first farm workers union in California history. Although, due to racial barriers and increased pressure by organized labor unions, several Issei were viewed as “strangers” as they were barricaded from factory and office jobs. As a result, they were involuntarily restricted to menial labor industries in railroads, agriculture, coal mining, smelting, meatpacking and salt (Almaguer, …show more content…
The Japanese served as the main source of replacement for the Chinese farm labor force. Most Japanese had experience in agriculture since they were former laborers who accumulated capital and farming methods from Japan (Azuma, 28). Due to labor shortage, Sugar Beet Farmers were stranded with rotting fruits and vegetables. In Strangers from a Different Shore: A History of Asian Americans, John Spreckels states, “If we do not have the Japs to do the field labor, we could be in a bad fix, because you know American labor will not go into the fields”. Furthermore, a representative from the California Fruit Growers Exchange claims, “the Japs just drift – we don't have to look out for them, white laborers with families, if we could get them, would be liabilities” (Takaki, 29). After the Chinese Exclusion Act, labor was shorthanded for farmers and Japanese labor was introduced. Japanese immigrants suffered in agriculture work as there were loud plantation sirens waking employees up at 5 AM and company policeman patrolling camps shortly after the alarms. Between 1885-1894, Japanese immigrants signed contracts to have their passages paid for by planters. Japanese would sign contracts agreeing to work for at least three years on …show more content…
The Issei held businesses by becoming growers, wholesalers, and forming retail networks such as restaurants and grocery stores. In addition to being well organized, their success came from countless hours of work and they always save most of what they have earned. However, after the events following World War II, the community view of the Japanese had destroyed most of their economic status. Many Japanese farmers ended up selling their land or were not able to lease their land altogether. In addition to post-war antics, Japanese also sold or closed off their businesses. According to the Immigration Commission, there were at least 3500 Japanese owned establishments ranging from hotels, boarding houses, and pool rooms (Takaki, 186). In Los Angeles, at least 72% of Japanese Americans were employed in enterprises before World War II. However, that value dropped significantly after World War II, as there were only 17.5% of Japanese Americans left who continued to pursue their entrepreneurial ventures