[SHINSEKAI SHINBUNSHA]. 新世界新聞社.

巴奈馬太平洋萬國大博覧会. 第壹. [Panama Taiheiyō Bankoku Daihakurankai. Dai ichi.].
Panama Pacific International Exposition. No. 1.

San Francisco. 新世界新聞社. Shinsekai Shinbunsha. Taisho 4 [ 1912]. Stock ID #174297

Maps, black and white photographic illustrations, fold-out panoramic photographs. Text in Japanese 377pp, & English 164 + 62pp. Neat chop on English title page. Endpapers, edges, first and last leaves foxed, lower edge occasional spotting and browning, one leaf protruding a little from the text block little creased along edge. Contents otherwise clean and firm. Original blue cloth covered boards show a map of the Americas with San Francisco and the Panama Canal specifically noted in white on the front board, Japanese characters on the spine worn with loss. Blue cloth trifle rubbed at edges, corners a trifle bumped. A good copy. 26 x 18cm.

This substantial book, which includes a very useful directory of Japanese residents in the United States, was published in 1912 in anticipation of the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco. The exposition was held to celebrate the completion of the Panama Canal. However, the most interesting and valuable aspects of this book are the 164 page range of advertisements by the Japanese traders in San Francisco area and the 204 page directory of Japanese residents in USA and their businesses.

The majority of the Japanese text explains the aims and plan of the exposition, as well as giving detail about the Panama Canal, US-Japan trade, history of Japanese migrants in the USA, opinions of American and Japanese politicians and businessmen, and various treaties and legislations in the US. A summary of the Japanese content is given in the 62 page English text at the rear.

The directory section lists Japanese residents and their businesses in California, particularly the San Francisco area. In addition, it also covers other states, such as Seattle and Tacoma in Washington, Arizona, Kansas, Utah, Idaho and Wyoming. The advertisements show the diversity and energy of Japanese communities in the United States at the time with detailed information about their trading items and services. The advertisements include recruiting agencies seeking staff listing the daily wages of railway workers.

The majority of the text is in Japanese which is accompanied by a 62 page section in English. Most of the advertisements are in Japanese but a number are bilingual or include some English. This work offers a rich source of information for understanding Japanese migrant communities in the United States at the beginning of the 20th century.

When referring to this item please quote stockid 174297.

Price: $1,500.00 AU

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