Japanese Americans

Japanese Americans
Japanese Americans are a very large and influential group that currently reside in the United States. Historically they have been among one of the three largest Asian communities, and in recent decades they have become the sixth largest group of minorities in the United States. Japanese Americans are continually immigrating to the US, and each year around seven thousand more Japanese persons reach US ports mainly along California. They have assimilated to American way of life well and their culture has been impacting themselves and also other Americans. Many of the Japanese immigrants are located on the West Coast; along California, Washington, and Oregon, but their culture is felt around the United States.
The first Japanese people to arrive in America were actually survivors of a ship wreck in the year of 1850. By 1852 the seventeen survivors of the ship wreck were the basis for America to open diplomatic relations and negotiations with Japan. Close to three years later, in 1855, America held the first official controlled intake of Japanese immigrants. Around 676 men, 159 women, and 108 children arrived in Honolulu, Hawaii. Many of these immigrants were arriving to become laborers on sugar plantations. By 1869, Japanese were arriving in Gold Hills, California to assist in building the tea and silk colony. Many Japanese immigrants were workers in Hawaii’s sugarcane and pineapple plantations and California’s fruit and produce farms. By 1900, many Japanese started land leasing and share cropping. They were becoming part of the US and into the mid 1900's they were becoming naturalized citizens.
Japanese American’s continue to hold on to their original culture and beliefs from Japan. Many of their practices are still performed and honored, while others may have been lost or not practiced as often to help them assimilate into American way of life. Many Japanese American’s still speak their native language, usually in their...