Yoshi’s passion for Mindanao (Vol 1: 120th anniversary of Japanese migration)
2023/1/11
Japanese Abaca Harvesting (1930s) (Photo courtesy of IMIN Philippine-Japan Historical Museum)
Davao Japanese School classroom in the 1930s (Source: Japanese book "Photograph collection of South banana Surveys (1939 version)" published by Gakuto-Shiseikai)
Japanese migrated for the first time, from the poor country of Japan to the rich country of the Philippines in 1903 -- the 36th year of the Meiji era, and one year before the Japan-Russia war. This year 2023 commemorates the 120th anniversary since the migration.
Japanese migrant-workers helped construct Kennon Road in Benguet, the mountainous road which was considered to be the most difficult and dangerous civil engineering project of its time and which claimed many lives. They also grew abaca and produced the so-called Manila hemp in Davao, a strong fiber and a prime commodity at that time. Before the Pacific War broke out, more than 20,000 Japanese lived in Davao who worked very hard, contributed to the local societies and established the affluent Japanese communities as their respectable members. I express my sincere respect for their brave frontier spirits and tireless efforts.
However, the war changed the destiny of the Japanese immigrants who had spent hard-working, honest and decent lives, and also that of their families and descendants. The Japanese descendants, Nikkeijin, underwent unspeakable sufferings and survived the war and the post war as well. For the Nikkeijin, even though 78 years have already passed since 1945, their postwar is not over yet. We should never repeat the tragedy of war. All Japanese people who are blessed with peace right now should stop and sincerely think about the issues of the Nikkeijin in the Philippines.
I pray for this 120th anniversary to be a special year to learn history, give gratitude to our ancestors and to deepen the friendly relations between Japan and Davao by introducing Japanese culture.
January 11, 2023 Ishikawa Yoshihisa
Japanese migrant-workers helped construct Kennon Road in Benguet, the mountainous road which was considered to be the most difficult and dangerous civil engineering project of its time and which claimed many lives. They also grew abaca and produced the so-called Manila hemp in Davao, a strong fiber and a prime commodity at that time. Before the Pacific War broke out, more than 20,000 Japanese lived in Davao who worked very hard, contributed to the local societies and established the affluent Japanese communities as their respectable members. I express my sincere respect for their brave frontier spirits and tireless efforts.
However, the war changed the destiny of the Japanese immigrants who had spent hard-working, honest and decent lives, and also that of their families and descendants. The Japanese descendants, Nikkeijin, underwent unspeakable sufferings and survived the war and the post war as well. For the Nikkeijin, even though 78 years have already passed since 1945, their postwar is not over yet. We should never repeat the tragedy of war. All Japanese people who are blessed with peace right now should stop and sincerely think about the issues of the Nikkeijin in the Philippines.
I pray for this 120th anniversary to be a special year to learn history, give gratitude to our ancestors and to deepen the friendly relations between Japan and Davao by introducing Japanese culture.
January 11, 2023 Ishikawa Yoshihisa