Key events between Japan and the US

By codyzaskey

  • Japan & Hawaii

    The City of Tokio arrived in Honolulu carrying the first 944 official migrants from Japan to Hawaii.

  • Katsu Goto

    Katsu Goto was lynched. A prominent merchant and interpreter, Goto was killed by those who didn't like the advocacy work he performed on behalf of Japanese plantation workers.

  • The Organic Act

    The Organic Act was signed by President McKinley. This act incorporated Hawaii as a Territory of the United States. As a territory, contract labor was no longer legal in Hawaii once the act went into effect on June 14. As a result, over 20 major strikes take place within a month. Over 8,000 laborers participated in these strikes which called for, among other things, higher wages, reduced work hours, and the hiring of Japanese overseers.

  • Hawaii and Mexico

    Congress approved amending existing immigration legislation which allowed President Roosevelt to issue an executive order stopping the migration of Japanese laborers from Hawaii and Mexico on Mar. 14, 1907. In concert with the Gentlemen's Agreement, this action ended labor immigration to the U.S. and put labor contractors out of business.

  • Filipino Labor Union

    3,000 members of the Filipino Labor Union walked off their jobs; Japanese workers soon joined them. By early February, 8,300 laborers were on strike, representing 77% of the work force.

  • Immigration Bill

    Calvin Coolidge signed the 1924 immigration bill into law, effectively ending Japanese immigration to the U.S.

  • Thalia Massie

    Thalia Massie, a Caucasian woman, was alledgedly beaten and assaulted by a group of Hawaiian and Japanese men. The incident led to controversial court decisions and vigilante action.

  • Executive Order 9066

    President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 which allowed military authorities to exclude any group of people from any region without trial or hearings for reasons of "military necessity." E.O. 9066 provided the legal authority behind the mass removal of Japanese Americans from the West Coast.

  • Tule Lake Closed

    Tule Lake closed. In the month prior to the closing, some five thousand inmates had to be moved, many of whom were elderly, impoverished, or mentally ill and who had no place to go. Of the 554 persons left here at the beginning of the day, 450 were moved to Crystal City, 60 were released, and the rest were "relocated."

  • Hawaii's 28th Legislature

    The openings ceremonies of Hawaii's 28th Legislature marks the first time in Hawaii's history that both Houses are controlled by the Democrats. Japanese Americans had played a key role in this turn of events.

  • Public Law 89-236

    President Johnson signs Public Law 89-236, amendments to the Immigration and Nationality Act. This new immigration legislation for the first time considers Asians equal to Europeans in immigration matters. Great numbers of Asians will eventually enter the U.S. under the provisions of this legislation.

  • HR 442

    HR 442 is signed into law by President Ronald Reagan. It provides for individual payments of $20,000 to each surviving internee and a $1.25 billion education fund among other provisions.