The Beginning of Japanese Pearl Divers in Australia

Introduction

Back when the Europeans discovered Australia, they started to create a world of their own. The aboriginals could do nothing in their power to stop the invaders from destroying their cycle of living. As the Europeans continued to build and discover; they soon uncovered gold in 1850 which globally attracted many immigrants including the Chinese, Europeans and Americans. In the first year, Australia’s population doubled (PearsonHistory, 2012, pg. 219). Soon after, mother-of-pearl shells became popular in the US and Britain causing Australia to follow the demands of the people and establish a pearling industry in the 1850s at Shark Bay. Since the aboriginals had great lung capacity, they were used to find oysters without any diving gear. However, the discovery of these pearls attracted many Japanese in the 1870s.

When did the Japanese first arrive in Australia, who brought the Japanese over and for what purpose, by what means did the Japanese get here and how long did it take? Until 1866, it was a serious offense if the Japanese left Japan. However, that law was disregarded around the 1870s and the news of high prices on pearls in Australia attracted many Japanese. They arrived to Australia via boat (3 weeks) with their families in hopes of starting a new beginning. There were much push and pull factors from both Australia and Japan. Japanese would be pushed from Japan due to the living conditions such as lack of employment, natural disasters etc. However, the news of Australia pulled many Japanese in the promise of work and to become more successful (Prezi, 2013). In a way it was a cycle of give and take where the Japanese would work hard for the future they were after. The Japanese were great at their jobs and their group were known as the ‘Ama’ which meant sea- women (John Holland, 2013). Because of this great reputation, many pearling industries began to bring in experienced Japanese divers from Hong Kong. This became an advantage for the companies and they began making extreme profits.

What Were Their Living and Working Conditions Like?

The Japanese had come to Australia in hopes of a better future. Back in Japan many of the divers lived in poor villages. After immigrating to Australia and joining the pearling industry although pay was low in Australian standards, it was substantial for the Japanese in contrast to what they made earned in Japan. The Japanese divers would sign a two-year contract and if it expired they had to return to Japan. They would be forced to work long tiring hours to pay of their debt to their employer for their travel cost to Australia. The Japanese only worked and barely got wages. There would be many dangers to working longs hours such as shark attacks, cyclones etc. In 1913 ‘the Western Australia Pearling Act of 1913’ only allowed British citizens to own pearl luggers (boats). The Japanese were not allowed to own any pearl diving business because the legislation prohibited any ‘alien’ from owning any vessel. However, the Japanese were working for the British citizens and made up the majority of the non-white working on the luggers. By 1914 Broome was supplying 80%of the world’s pearls and had reached prices to £400 per tonne. Their living conditions however were usually out at sea on luggers. The small luggers had no cooking facilities or restrooms. The crew lived in a confined space, with piles of stinking pearl shells on the deck.

What Kind of Resources Did They Use for Pearl Diving?

The aboriginal diver would dive naked with only a basket to collect the oysters. This was a method called skin diving which was extremely dangerous due to shark attacks. Then soon after the Japanese used diving goggles which then got replaced by a diving suit invented by Siebe and Gorman in 1871. This allowed the divers to go 27 meters below by pumping air to the submerged diver. Oxygen packs also started to emerge which eliminated the pumping air method. These were the only resources that were used as more modern inventions were not introduced in that era.

What Were the Terms and Conditions of Their Employment?

The Japanese were forced to work long hours for a set period until they had repaid their debt. The debt was the fee of which they were able to come to Australia. This was the original employment condition however over time these conditions had altered. Since the Japanese were incredible at their jobs and they hardly got paid, this meant, that due to the cheap labor there was a fear that the Japanese would replace the white Australian workers. If this continued, working conditions would drastically decline for white Australians. Rule such as only British Citizens could own a business made the white Australians feel superior and, there was no acknowledgment of the Japanese people’s hard work. Due to this, there were extreme racist acts and the level of discrimination had certainly reached its peak.

How Were of the Aboriginal Divers Different/Similar From the Japanese Divers and How Did the Aboriginal People Feel the Japanese People Took Over Pearl Diving?

Aboriginal workers were forced into employment and if they refused they would be punished with longer hours of labor by law. However, some employers would illegally punish the aboriginals by abuse. The aboriginals had extraordinary lung capacity and would have to dive without clothes which was a method known as skin diving. The Japanese however also had extraordinary lung capacity, which was even advanced than the aboriginal. The Japanese could stay underwater for longer than 3 mins and obtain many oysters. Since they started working later than the aboriginals, they were introduced to many diving equipments and the majority of the Japanese did not have to skin dive. Both the aboriginals and the Japanese were not paid for their work, however, the Japanese worked to pay off their debts in return for their future whereas the aboriginal worked by force and were not guaranteed anything in return. Since many Japanese wanted to leave Japan due to the terrible living condition, this played as an advantage for them. Although the Japanese took over the Aboriginal, the aboriginal continued to work in the industry in lower status contrast to the Japanese.