Manzo Nagano was the first official Japanese immigrant who came to Canada.
He was the fourth of seven children born to Kihei Nagano.
RICKSHA
Manzo was born on 26 November 1853, in Kuchinotsu [Minamishimabara], Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan.
Manzo worked a variety of jobs from fishing for salmon to loading timber on outbound ships.
March of 1877, age 24, Manzo left Japan for the West aboard a British steamer, arriving at British Columbia in May.
He joined a British merchant ship that made trips to Shanghai, China, and to British Columbia.
He also mingled with the Chinese immigrant community in Victoria, and ended up working in railway construction for a time.
In 1886, 33 years old, he returned to Japan to marry 17-year-old Tsuya Ichi.
In 1896, Manzo, his son and new wife ,Tayoko, returned to Canada.
Sadly, she died not long after they had their first son in 1893 (George Nagano). He returned to Japan with his young son.
Not long after, he set up a store selling supplies to people headed toward the Klondike during the gold rush of 1897. He had other businesses, including a small hotel and store on Government Street.
He also opened two restaurants under the name “Ricksha”, one in the US, and another in Yokohama but none of them succeeded.
During the First World War, Nagano played host to naval officers from Japanese cruisers docked in Esquimalt. (Despite the fact that Japan and Canada were allies during the war, most Asian volunteers were turned away by recruitment offices in British Columbia; over 200 travelled to Alberta to enlist in the forces).
Over 30 Million Storyboards Created
No Downloads, No Credit Card, and No Login Needed to Try!
We use cookies so you get the best experience, Privacy Policy