History - 2 The Japanese  in Penang 1880 - 1940     by Clement Liang

1880 to 1927 ONE OF THE MINORITIES  who made their presence in Penang from the late 19th to mid 20th centuries came from Japan. In 1910, the official census counted 207 Japanese residents in Penang. Unlike the present day Japanese expatriates living in Penang, those early-day Japanese settlers were much poorer in comparison and before 1920 , most of the Japanese female residents then were involved in the "flesh" trade.    Year               Male               Female          Total 1880                    10                 60                  70 1881                      7                 70                  77 1896                    30               100                130   1897                    50               120                170 1898                    24                 83                107 1903                    42               168                210 1904                    51               263                314 1906                    80               299                379 1910                    58               149                207 1921                   116              110                226 1926                     86                79                165 1927                     95                83                178 (Number of registered Japanese in  Penang in selective years (1))  Below:  Types of occupation as at end of December, 1910 (2)  Occupation     No. of establishments   Male staff    Female staff    Combined total               Medical Clinic              1                                         2                        1                              3            Dentistry                       1                                         3                        0                              3            Photo Studio                1                                         7                        2                              9            Glass & Mirror             1                                         2                        0                              2            Groceries                     2                                         2                        4                              6            Pharmacies                 2                                         2                        1                              3            Hotels & Inns               2                                         6                        4                            10            Motion Picture              2                                       20                        3                            23            Hairdressing                1                                         2                        1                              3            Blow-piping                  1                                         0                        1                               1            Poultry Farm                 1                                         1                        1                              2            Rubber Plantation       1                                         1                        1                              2            Buddhist Clergy           2                                          2                       1                              3            Laundry                         1                                          2                        1                             3            Carpentry                      2                                          2                        2                              4            Prostitution                 28                                          4                   126                          130            Total                 　        49                                         58                 149                           207

Karayuki-san The history of Karayuki-san (overseas Japanese prostitutes) In Kyushu, the Shimabara Peninsula ( ), located in Nagasaki Prefecture, and the arid mountainous Amakusa islands , which lie opposite the Kumamoto Prefecture produced the highest numbers of Karayuki-san in Japan. These fishing and farming areas in Kyushu were among the most impoverished areas in Japan due to the lack of fertile land for cultivation, the burgeoning population and the authorities tacit punishment for started massive rebellions in the past. During the Tokugawa period, the peasants of Amakusa and Shimabara had to pay up to 50% of their harvest to the Daimyo ( feudal lord ) or the Bakufu feudal authorities as a form of land tax. (3) The same condition applied during the Meiji era which began from 1868, the peasants could not improve much and they continued to contribute similar rate of taxes in the form of cash. These areas are close to the seaport of Nagasaki which has good connection to travel to the Asian continent and S.E. Asia, the peasants and fishermen who were poverty stricken and facing the threat of regular famine had little choice but under the persuasion of the prostitute racketeers called Zegen ( ), sold their daughters to work as Karayuki-san or prostitutes overseas. For other young girls, the promise of good decent jobs overseas turned out to be a nightmare of the lifetime where they were cheated and forced into prostitution against their will. Despite the difficult lives many of the Karayuki-san led abroad, they were often stalwart patriots who sent money back home to support both their impoverished families. The money which these Karayuki-san remitted to their homeland contributed a large foreign exchange reserve to the Japan economy at that time. During the Japan's expansionist wars with Qing Dynasty in China during the mid 1890's and with the Czarist Russia in 1905, the brothel owners used the idea of national good to enslave the young girls and women who were told that their bodies belonged to the state and that they constituted a form of female army to help their motherland (4). The victory over the Russians in 1905 saw an up surge of nationalism and racial pride in Japan and by 1910, calls for abolishing this disgraceful overseas lesh trade began to emerge from the overseas Japanese community leaders and Japanese officers traveling abroad. Nevertheless, it was not until 1920 that Japanese Government, in collaboration with the British administrators who were concerned with the epidemic spread of the venereal diseases, began to abolish this lesh trade and forced the Karayuki-san to leave the Straits Settlements and the Malay states (5). Most of them were repatriated to Japan for good and for those who refused to return, they either went nder-ground and turned to sly-prostitution or married the locals in order to stay on.

In Shimbara City Today, visitors to Tennyo Temple, a Buddhist shrine in Shimabara City, Kyushu could witness hundreds of stone pillars engraved with the names of the Karayuki-san, former places of occupation and the amounts of donation. The word "Pinang" is featured prominently on many of the pillars there, a testimony to the Penang past link with the Karayuki-san originated from this area (6). The Karayuki-san activities generated a pillover economy which brought prosperity to those who cash in to cater for these girls special needs. One phenomenon was the presence of a small number of medical practitioners e.g. doctors, dentists and pharmacists who initially provided health care service to these girls. Being modern in outlook and less exclusive than the Europeans, they were welcomed and increasingly patronised by the locals. List of medical, dental clinics and pharmacies run by the Japanese in Penang : Nagata Dental Clinic, Bishop St Nagata Dental Clinic, Leith St branch Ando Medical Centre, Penang St Japan Dispensary, Chulia St Japan Dental Clinic, Chulia St Matsutake Dental Clinic, Muntri St Maeda Dentist, Argyle Rd Marusan Pharmacy, Cintra St Photo Studios and Silent Movie Cinemas Japan was the first country in the East to become industrialised through its national policy to emulate western countries during the Meiji Restoration period (1868 - 1912). Western inventions and ideas were quickly mastered by the Japanese and in turn reintroduced to other Asian countries. The Japanese brought in the cameras and introduced the concept of photo studios to Penang. At the beginning of the 20th century, it was known that a Japanese by the name of Okaniwa had already operated a photo studio named Nikko Studio at Leith Street. The other Japanese photo studios in Penang included Tokisatsu Photo Studio at Bishop St. and Mikasa Photo Studio in Penang Rd. In those days, taking family photos was a popular annual event for the local families. Besides the photos, the Japanese were among the first groups to bring in the silent movies to Penang viewers. One silent movie cinema owned by the Japanese was operating in Kuala Kangsar Rd. Hoteliers & Inns Keepers The Japanese operated several hotels in Penang. In the early days, hotels like Matsuya Hotel and Tanaka Hotel along Chulia St were probably operated to cash on the flourishing trade created by the Karayuki-san activities in the vicinity. When the ocean-liners became the affordable mode of travel between Japan and Europe from 1910s, Japanese businessmen, travelers and scholars were passing through the port of Penang which was one of the main stops for the Japanese ocean-liners enroute to and from Europe. Better hotels like the Asahi Hotel at Transfer Rd, Japan Hotel at Leith St, Penang Hotel at Chulia St and London Hotel at Argyle Rd were later established by the Japanese to cater for both Japanese and international travelers. The Asahi Hotel (1914) was an officially appointed hotel by the Japanese Government. It was also suspected being used as a base for the Japanese espionage activities in this region gathering information on the Western powers navy cruisers passing through the Straits of Malacca. This colonial-style grand building was unfortunately demolished at the end of January, 2002 to make way for other developments.

Traders & Barbers The repatriation of the Karayuki-san in 1920 was replaced by a different group of Japanese - the traders and the barbers who were actively seeking new business opportunities under the encouragement of the Japanese Government policy to ove South Penang, with its ideal location as a trader port for northern Malaya, attracted a number of traders dealing with the importing of Japanese goods. In those days, the quality of the goods from Japan was not on par with the European imports but the prices were cheaper and affordable. From matchboxes to condensed milk, they swamped the local market and posed great challenge to the European goods. A number of the major Japanese traders in Penang market then were: Osakaya & Co, 230-232 Penang Rd Nara & Co, 368,-370 Chulia St K. Inagi & Co, 424-426 Chulia St The Japanese barbers brought in hairdresser chairs from Japan, delivered stylish haircuts of those days and were quite popular with the locals. Some of the names of the Japanese hairdresser salons in Penang were: Yamashita Hairdressing, Bishop St Kondo Hairdressing, Leith St Uosumi Beauty Salon, Argyle Rd

Fishermen The invention of ice-making machines and cold storage facilities enabled the Japanese to expand their fishing industry overseas. From the Burmese coast down to the East Indies shoreline, the Japanese possessed fleets of modern fishing boats plowing the rich produce from the surrounding seas. In Penang, a group of 20- 30 Japanese fishermen were stationed here in the 1920 and 30 and a Japanese fishing company was formed and located inside the Japan Hotel at Leith St. The Little Japan at Cintra Street & Kampung Malabar The Chinese in Penang refer to Cintra Street as Jipun Kay & Jipun Hoay Kay - the Little Japan Street and the nearby Kampung Malabar as Jipun Sin Lor - the Japanese New Road - a reference to the presence of a sizeable Japanese community operating brothels and small sundry shops in the area from the late 19th century until the forced closing down of this red-light district in 1920s. The locals could recall that Cintra Street was a favorite place for the foreigners and non-Chinese looking for sex because the Japanese prostitutes did not turn them away like the Chinese did. These Karayuki-san were deemed cleaner as they inspected the client before hand and refused those whom they saw carrying diseases. The Little Japan that existed in Cintra Street and Kampung Malabar vanished after the 1920's when the Karayuki-san were banned from plying their trade. The economic activities of the local Japanese altered to become more trader focus and coupled with the inflow of skilled workers and professionals, the demographic pattern of Japanese residents started to shift to Bishop Street, Chulia Street and Penang Road. One of the remnants from this era is an old wooden bungalow commonly known as Jipuna Kong Kwan (Japanese Mansion) situated at 491, Chulia St (sandwiched in between Kampunng Malabar & Chulia Street). It was probably a boarding house for the early Japanese settlers and the location for the local Japanese Charity Club which existed before 1915 .

Nihonjin-Kai The Japanese Association in Penang was first established on 19th September, 1915 under the auspices of the Singapore-based Japanese Consul General then, Mr. Fujii. A 7-member committee was elected with Mr. Umetsu as the president of the association. The association had its temporary premises at the Tanaka Hotel at Chulia Street and the former Japanese Charity & Youth Club was dissolved and merged under this newly formed body. A celebration was held at the Japanese-owned Kuala Kangsar Road Cinema on 10th November the same year. The association was registered with the Penang City Council in January 1916 and moved to a new place at 25, Penang Road. In 1921 it  moved to 20, Leith Street and in 1925 to 52, Penang Road. The Japanese Association was the focal point for the local Japanese taking care of their social welfare and representing their interests in this British ruled island. In 1917, the association took over the title-deeds of the Japanese cemetery and obtained the approval from the City Council to set-up cremation facilities there. Fund-raising campaigns to aid the disaster-stricken people in Japan and Malaya were frequently carried out and it also represented the local Japanese community to welcome visits from Japan royal families and government officials. In 1932, a Japanese language class was set-up by the association to provide mother-tongue education for the Japanese children. The association was actively promoting sports and recreation among its members and formed various clubs for tennis, billiard, youth activities, English lessons and a bar in its premises. In 1918, a Japanese navy cruiser ss Mogami called at the Port of Penang for urgent help due to a large number of its sea crew being stricken with the Influenza which ravaged the world after the First World War. The Association immediately lent its assistance and arranged the hospitalization of these crew but 14 among these crew died and were later cremated and buried in the Penang Japanese cemetery. (6) The Penang Japanese Cemetery The Japanese Cemetery situated at Jalan P. Ramlee was set up on 2.10.1893 with 4 trustees (Yamada, Maroree, Hashee Mawthaw, Hamanaka) being granted the title by the Land Office (7). The cemetery was left in neglected state for many years. In 1965, a long time Japanese resident in Penang, Mr. Hirajima was entrusted by the Japanese Embassy to clean up the cemetery. For his effort, he was awarded a medal by the Japan Foreign Ministry in 1978. There were 56 tomb stones found in this cemetery with the earliest one dated back to 1893 (Meiji 26th Year). Contrary to popular belief, this cemetery was not a burial ground for the Japanese soldiers killed during the Second World War. In fact, only one tomb stone dated 30.7.1942 belonging to one Kataoka from Troop 5174. All the other 55 tombs are dated between 1893 - 1926. The majority of the Japanese who were buried or commemorated here mostly made up from the Karayuki-san who died in the Meiji Period (1868 - 1911) and a number of Japanese Navy officers who died from illness in Penang during the Taisho Period (1912 - 1925 ).

Repatriation Ever since the Karayuki-san returned to Japan in 1920, the number of long term Japanese residents in Penang reduced significantly and only recovered slightly by the presence of other Japanese professionals who came later. However, the Japanese population in Penang after 1920 was only hovering around 200. In the 1930s, the Japanese invasion of Manchuria and China sparked a series of anti-Japanese campaigns by the Chinese community in Malaya. In 1935, the Japanese Club in Singapore was ransacked by about 200 Chinese rioters. In Penang, in-line with the anti-Japanese movement in China, Chinese leaders actively instigated the people to boycott Japanese goods and services. In 1937, sensing the tense and dangerous situation, the Japanese wives and children living in Malaya & Singapore were advised to evacuate and return to Japan by their authorities and the community leaders. The biggest blow to the Japanese community came immediately after the Japanese soldiers landed at Kota Bharu on 8th December, 1941, the British swiftly arrested hundreds of the local Japanese residents and sent them to the Changi Prison in Singapore and later evacuated by ships to the intern camps in India. The British had long suspected the local Japanese working as spies for the Imperial Japanese government and this undue suspicion had caused many innocent Japanese residents to suffer in the internment camps. One quoted example is the story unfold by a former Karayuki-san Okiku who married a local Indian and stayed in Malaya during that period . She was arrested due to her ethnic origin and sent to Singapore Changi Prison together with other 3000 Japanese compatriots rounded up in Malaya & Singapore (8). Shortly before the fall of Singapore, she was transferred to India where she spent several harsh years as an internee. Conclusion The Japanese residents in the old days of Penang formed a small and yet vibrant community providing entertainment, western-style medical care, hotel services, traders and the needed skilled labour. They brought in new ideas and modern equipment to Penang at a time when the society made up of a predominantly male migrant force had few and limited entertainment outlets. Similar to many other immigrants, the Japanese came here to look for better life but unfortunately suffered various forms of discrimination including racist assaults from the Chinese groups and British suspicion. For Karayuki-san involved in the flesh trade, they were treated as the lowest commodities, transported from town to town by the pimp racketeers. In spite of the harsh and unfriendly environment, many young Japanese pioneers came to the shore of Penang with great enterprising spirit and built up a wealthy and successful community in a relatively short time. Compared to the present day Japanese expatriate community in Penang, the early days Japanese settlers had a lot of interactions with the locals at the grass root level and their achievements were felt and enjoyed by other communities. It is time to review the true role that these Japanese had played and recognise them as one of the ethnic groups that had made significant contributions to Penang early development, shaping Penang as what it is today along the way. Their role should not be mixed up with the Japanese military invaders who came later with a totally different intention. These Japanese have left an indelible mark on Penang history and their lives had woven into the social fabric of Penang in those days, making Penang an interesting and attractive entreport on the world map.# Clement Liang Email clement_liang@dell.com REFERENCES (1) Overseas Japanese Population Census Record, Japanese Consul-General in Singapore, 1880 - 1926 (2) Overseas Japanese Population Census Record, Acting Japanese Consul Iwatani in Singapore, 1910 (3) Ah Ku and Karayuki-san, Prostitution in Singapore 1870 - 1940, James F. Warren, Oxford University Press, 1993 (4) Sandakan Number 8 Brothel, Tomoko Yamazaki, 1972 (5) Prewar Japanese Community in Singapore - Picture & Record, The Japanese Association in Singapore, 1998 (6) Kumamoto Nichi-nichi Shimbun, 4th Oct, 1999 (7) Nanyo no 50 nen (50 years in SE Asia), The Singapore Nanyo Japanese Association, 1934, pp. 703- 704 (8) The Malaysia Japanese Cemetery Record 1998, Japan Embassy in Malaysia, pp116 - 132 (9) Karayuki-san Okiku no seigai (The life of Okiku the Karayuki-san), Noboru Oba, Akashi Books, 2001, pp173-176

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