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Australia has been a popular destination for Japanese people since the late 1800s, when the first Japanese migrants arrived. The Japanese community in Australia has grown steadily over the years, with the 2021 census recording 45,267 Japanese-born residents and 78,054 people of Japanese ancestry. Short-term travel between the two countries is also common, with Australia being a popular holiday destination for Japanese tourists and vice versa. As of October 2023, approximately 99,830 Japanese residents called Australia home.
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What You'll Learn
Japanese migration to Australia began in the 1870s
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Japanese migrants played a prominent role in the pearling industry of north-western Australia, particularly in the Western Australian Kimberley town of Broome. Here, they constituted the largest ethnic group until the Second World War, and their influence can still be seen in the town's Japanese street names, one of the largest Japanese cemeteries outside of Japan, and the creole language Broome Pearling Lugger Pidgin, which contains many Japanese words.
By 1911, the Japanese population in Australia had grown to approximately 3,500 people. However, with the outbreak of the Pacific War in 1941, most Japanese in Australia were interned, and most were deported when the war ended. Only 74 Japanese citizens and their children were permitted to remain in the country, leaving Japanese communities and businesses across Australia effectively eradicated.
It was not until the 1970s that the Japanese population in Australia recovered to its pre-war levels, spurred by the end of the White Australia Policy in 1973, which had restricted Japanese migration for much of the 20th century. Since then, the Japanese community in Australia has steadily grown, with over half of the current Japan-born population arriving before 2007. As of 2021, the census recorded 45,267 Japanese-born residents in Australia, with 78,054 people reporting Japanese ancestry. The number of Japanese residents in Australia peaked in 2019 at over 103,600, and as of October 2023, approximately 99,830 Japanese residents lived in the country.
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Japanese Australians were interned during WWII
As of October 2023, approximately 99,830 Japanese residents lived in Australia. This number has been steadily increasing, with a peak of over 103,600 Japanese residents in 2019.
Japanese Australians have a long history in the country, with the first Japanese migrants arriving in the 1870s. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Japanese migrants played a prominent role in the pearl industry of north-western Australia and the sugar cane industry in Queensland. By 1911, the Japanese population in Australia had grown to approximately 3,500 people.
During World War II, however, the Japanese-Australian community faced significant challenges. When Japan entered the war in December 1941, Japanese people living in Australia were treated as enemy aliens, resulting in the internment of 1,141 civilians, who made up almost the entire Japanese population in Australia. This included many who had lived in Australia for decades, as well as those born in the country. They were sent to "enemy" camps in places like Loveday in South Australia, Tatura in Victoria, and Hay and Cowra in New South Wales. The internment of Japanese Australians was more racial than political, with Japanese people being "evacuated" from their hometowns "for their own good" to prevent racist attacks.
After the war, most interned Japanese Australians were repatriated to Japan, even those with no or few ties to the country. Only about 200 Japanese were permitted to remain in Australia, and the Japanese communities and businesses across the country were effectively eradicated. The experiences of these Japanese Australians during WWII have largely been forgotten or overshadowed by events related to prisoners of war. There has been no apology or redress for the internment of Japanese Australians, and their stories remain relatively unknown.
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Japanese Australians were deported post-WWII
As of October 2023, approximately 99,830 Japanese residents lived in Australia. In the observed time frame, numbers peaked in 2019 at over 103,600 Japanese residents, but then decreased significantly in the following two years.
The history of Japanese migration to Australia dates back to the late 19th century, with the first Japanese migrants working in the sugar cane and pearl diving industries. However, the Japanese community in Australia remained relatively small throughout the 19th century due to various restrictions on migration. During World War II, Australia was at war with Japan, and this had a significant impact on the Japanese-Australian community.
During WWII, 1,141 Japanese civilians living in Australia, almost the entire population, were interned in "enemy" camps. This accounted for 97%-98% of the total Japanese population in Australia at the time. In addition to those interned in Australia, another 3,160 Japanese civilians arrested in allied countries across the Asia-Pacific region were also interned in Australia. This included 600 Formosans (Taiwanese) and an unknown number of Koreans who were arrested as Japanese due to their Japanese names.
After the war, most of the interned Japanese civilians were deported to Japan, even those with no or few ties to the country. Only 74 Japanese nationals and their children, or 200 Japanese people according to another source, were permitted to remain in Australia. This effectively eradicated Japanese communities and businesses across the country. The Japanese population in Australia did not recover to pre-WWII levels until the 1970s, following the end of the White Australia Policy, which had restricted Japanese migration.
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The White Australia Policy restricted Japanese migration
The White Australia Policy, established in 1901, restricted Japanese migration to Australia. The policy was a fundamental piece of legislation that aimed to maintain Australia's ""British character" and resulted in a racially insulated white society.
The Immigration Restriction Act of 1901, which was a key component of the White Australia Policy, effectively ended all non-European immigration by introducing entrance examinations in European languages. This act included a dictation test in a European language, which was later administered in any prescribed language, giving immigration officers the power to fail migrants deemed undesirable. While the act did not explicitly mention specific races or groups, it practically excluded all "coloured" people, including Japanese individuals.
The White Australia Policy was driven by racist attitudes prevalent in Australian society at the time, with parliamentarians seeking to restrict non-white population growth. This sentiment was further fuelled by the belief that the ""inexhaustible energy" and "low standard of living" of Japanese and Chinese individuals made them dangerous competitors in the newly formed federation.
The policy had a significant impact on the demographics of Australia, with the Asian population shrinking to around 0.21% by the late 1940s. The Japanese community in Australia was already relatively small, and the White Australia Policy further restricted their growth.
It wasn't until the 1970s, with the introduction of policies like the Racial Discrimination Act of 1975, that the White Australia Policy was completely eliminated, allowing for the growth of the Japanese community in Australia.
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Japanese language and culture in Australia
Japanese Australians are Australian citizens and residents who claim Japanese ancestry. The first Japanese migrants to Australia arrived in the late 1800s, with the first recorded Japanese settler arriving in 1871. Despite a ban on emigration in place until 1886, Japanese people continued to arrive as part of indentured work schemes, most of whom worked in the sugar cane or diving industries, or were employed in service roles.
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Japanese migrants played a prominent role in the pearl industry of north-western Australia. By 1911, the Japanese population in Australia had grown to approximately 3,500 people. However, with the outbreak of the Pacific War (1941-1945) during World War II, Australia and its Allied forces came into conflict with Japan. This resulted in the internment and subsequent deportation of most Japanese nationals at the end of the war. Only 74 Japanese citizens and their children were permitted to remain in Australia, causing Japanese communities and businesses across the country to be effectively eradicated.
It wasn't until the 1970s that the Japanese population in Australia recovered to its pre-war levels. The end of the White Australia Policy in 1973 saw further growth of Australia's Japanese community, with Japan-born business people, students, and tourists arriving in the country. As of 2011, Australia had 35,378 Japan-born residents, with more than 65% having arrived from the mid-1990s onwards. The 2016 census recorded 42,421 Japan-born people in Australia, with the majority residing in the eastern states of New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria. The 2021 census recorded an increase to 45,267 Japanese-born residents, with 78,054 people reporting Japanese ancestry.
Japanese language and culture have a significant presence in Australia. Japanese is the most widely studied foreign language in Australia, with approximately 400,000 students studying it across all education levels. There are Japanese international day schools in Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth, as well as weekend supplementary programmes approved by the Japanese Ministry of Education in several cities. Japanese restaurants, supermarkets, societies, and clubs help foster community life, and major capital cities host festivals celebrating Japanese culture. Additionally, short-term travel between Australia and Japan is common, with both countries being popular holiday destinations for each other's residents.
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Frequently asked questions
As of October 2023, approximately 99,830 Japanese residents live in Australia.
No, the Japanese population in Australia has grown over time. In 1911, the Japanese population in Australia was approximately 3,500 people. The population was impacted by the Pacific War (1941-1945) during World War II, which saw most Japanese in Australia interned and then deported. Only 74 Japanese citizens and their children were permitted to remain in Australia after the war.
The Japanese population in Australia started to recover in the 1970s, reaching similar levels to those seen at the start of the 20th century.
The majority of Japanese-born people in Australia reside in the eastern states of New South Wales (33%), Queensland (29.2%), and Victoria (20.1%). Within Victoria, Melbourne City is home to one of the largest Japanese communities.
Japanese people in Australia are engaged in a variety of occupations. According to statistics, nearly half (46.3%) of the Japan-born population who are employed hold skilled managerial, professional, or trade occupations. Additionally, approximately 33% work in communication, personal service, clerical, or administrative occupations.
