Inventory of Colonisation Japonaise au Perou SPC.2020.011
Lindsay Anderson
California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections
2020-03-20
University Library South -5039 (Fifth Floor)
1000 E. Victoria St.
Carson, CA 90747
archives@csudh.edu
Contributing Institution:
California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections
Title: Colonisation Japonaise au Perou
Identifier/Call Number: SPC.2020.011
Physical Description:
1 box
(1 photo album, 31 pages)
Physical Description:
1.29 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1930-1950
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.
Language of Material: The title of the photo album is written in French.
There are no access restrictions on this collection.
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
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.
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".
For information about citing archival material, see the
Citations for Archival Material guide, or consult the appropriate style manual.
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.
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
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.
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.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Japanese -- Peru
Photograph albums
Plantation workers
Emigration and immigration
Portraits
Baseball
Lima (Peru)
box 1, item 1
Colonisation Japonaise au Perou