1900s
In 1901 the population of Japanese people in Canada was approximately 5000. This number quickly grew and by 1907 the population is thought to have been over 18, 000 nationwide. [1] The increase in Japanese immigrants created an increase in competition for jobs with the locals. Eruption of hostility against Asians lead to mobs attacking Japantown in Vancouver in 1907.[2] After the Vancouver riot, the Hayashi-Lemieux Agreement (Gentlemen's Agreement) was made in 1908 to limit the number of Japanese male immigrants to 400 per year. In the upcoming years, much of the Japanese population increase was from wives coming to be with their husbands in Canada.[3] Approximately 300 to 400 of the wives who arrived were "picture brides'' who had arranged marriages with men in Canada by exchanging photographs and letters.[4]
The increase in Japanese population within this decade was also visible in New Westminster. Up until around 1907 the only person with a Japanese name to appear in BC directories in New Westminster was Paul L. Okamura. By 1908, as shown in the map above, there were at least 9 Japanese people living in New Westminster.
Okamura arrived in New Westminster in 1891 and became an art teacher at St. Louis College. He became a well known photographer in the city, capturing photos of landscapes including those of the Great Fire. His friendship with W. H. Keary led to Okamura being responsible for photographing the May Queen and suites of maids between 1899 to 1920. He continued to run his studio until 1931, 6 years before his death.[5]
At 72 1st Street there is a ginkgo tree in the front yard of what used to be the home of W. H. Keary. The tree, which is now one of the oldest ginkgo trees in the Lower Mainland, was a gift to Keary from Japanese naval officers during the 1903 delegation.[6]