CHAPTER XI JAPANESE IN THE UNITED STATES THE annual immigration of the Japanese to the United States passed the 100 mark in 1885, and the 1,000 mark in 1891. As in the case of the Chinese, the statistics furnished by the Bureau of Immigration are far from complete. Previous to 1870 the total Japanese arrivals had slightly exceeded 100. Between 1870 and 1879 some 164 are recorded as arriving, and during the eighties only 1,874 entered. Between 1890 and 1899 the immigration averaged about 1,500 annually. The following decade saw the large immigration. During the first year (1900) of the decade 12,628 arrived, 20,041 in 1903, and 30,842 in 1907. The "gentlemen's agreement" then went into operation and immigration fell to 16,418 in 1908, and to 3,275 in 1909, the total for the decade being 142,536. Between 1910 and 1916 (inclusive) Japanese immigration amounted to 48,108. This gives a grand total of about 208,000. Since 1900 non-immigrants have been distinguished from immigrants. Between 1900 and 1908 (inclusive) non-immigrants are reported to the extent of 4,721 (by country),1 while from 1909 1 Source: Senate Documents, No. 747-61st Congress, 3d Session; Report of Immigration Commission, vol. I, pp. 66-96, Table IX, Parts 1 and 2. 1916 (inclusive) there were 22,074 (by race), giving a total record of non-immigrants of 27,511 between 1900 and 1916. This brings the total of alien Japanese admitted to the United States as immigrants and non-immigrants to 233,582. It is to be remembered, however, that these statistics exclude the Hawaiian Islands before, and include them since, 1900. With the annexation of those islands their entire Japanese population of some 61,111 was suddenly added to the Japanese population of the United States, thus bringing the total nearly up to 300,000. The record of departures is exceedingly fragmentary. In their place we may note the record of the census for the successive periods showing how many Japanese were present in the United States at the time of each census. 1900. 23,341 1910. 985 24,326 47,508 | 13,603 61,111 63,070 9,087 72,157 54,785 24,891 79,675 As in the case of the Chinese, so here the Bureau of Immigration provides us with statistics, increas 1 This figure does not include Hawaiian-born Japanese. ingly complete as time passes. The sex and illiteracy of immigrants is reported beginning with the year 1896, and of non-immigrants, emigrants, and non-emigrants from 1909.1 From these tables we secure the following summary: JAPANESE ADMITTED TO AND DEPARTED FROM THE UNITED STATES (1896-1916) From the above table the following facts appear. During the period of largest immigration (thirteen years, 1896-1908) 126,835 men arrived, and only 20,687 women. How many left the United States during these years we do not know. After the "gentlemen's agreement" went into effect (eight years, 1909-1916), 39,645 men and 33,812 women were admitted. In this same period, however, 54,786 men returned to Japan and only 11,819 women. To put the facts from a different angle, 1 1 Tables VII, XIII, VII A-XIII A, the Japanese alien male population of the United States diminished by 15,141, while the Japanese alien female population increased by 21,993. The entire increase of Japanese population in the United States by arrivals over departures was 6,852 in eight years. These figures it is to be remembered include the Hawaiian Islands. These facts are so contrary to the ordinary impression sedulously cultivated by anti-Japanese agitators that for the sake of emphasis and ease of reference I present them in another form. Total alien Japanese male departures (1909-1916)..... Decrease of alien Japanese males in U.S.. 54,786 39,645 15,141 Total alien Japanese females entered U. S. (1909–1916).... 33,812 Total alien Japanese females departed (1909-1916)... Increase of alien Japanese females in U. S..... 11,819 21,993 The foregoing statistics take no account of births or deaths, and it is to be remembered that these figures include arrivals to and departures from the Hawaiian Islands. We shall see later on that of the above decrease of males about one-half took place in the Hawaiian Islands and one-half in Continental United States. In regard to the increase of females also approximately one-half was in Hawaii and onehalf in Continental United States. Arrivals exceeded departures (1909-1916) in the case of those under fourteen years of age by 1,454, and by 10,657 of those between fourteen and forty four years old, while of those over forty-four years old the departures exceeded arrivals by 5,259. These figures show that the vast majority of the Japanese coming to America are in the prime of life, while of those who have passed the prime of life departures largely exceed arrivals. An interesting inquiry concerns the length of residence of those leaving the United States. |