In 1885. a Shintaro Takagi came with some merchandise to sell from San Francisco and married Tama Iwakoshi in 1891. The couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1940 under the auspices of the Oregon United Japanese Association. It was in 1891 that the first Japanese immigrant group arrived. There were seven in the first group and 17 in the next. Unable to speak the language and unused to strange customs. they had no protectors and encountered unspeakable hardships after landing in Portland. At one time. Takagi. who had opened a dry goods store in Portland. rushed to their rescue when he heard that a group of Japanese were found weeping under a bridge. Such irresponsible immigration policy caused the Japanese consulate representative in San Francisco to speed to Portland and after investigation. prohibit Japanese to land in Portland for a while. The Japanese immigrants mainly worked as woodcutters and hops pickers. They gradually took the place of the Chinese laborers on the railroads as well. Their diligence and steadiness became recognized in the labor market. When an understanding was reached anew between the immigration companies and the authorities. Shinsaburo Ban became employed by the former to provide large number of Japanese laborers for the Union Pacific. Southern Pacific. and the Spokane.
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