Abstract

OSHIMA, Mashairo. First japanese immigrants to Bolivia in 1899. Rev. Fuent. Cong. [online]. 2018, vol.12, n.56, pp. 7-25. ISSN 1997-4485.

ABSTRACT This study analyzes the history of Japanese immigration to Bolivia in 1899. Why did 91 migrants move from Peru to Bolivia? The Japanese immigration company "Company Morioka", and its representative in Peru, Teikichi Tanaka, began the Japanese migration business to Peru and took 790 Japanese to the sugar haciendas in 1899, however, this first business immediately became a tragedy. Many people died from disease, and as a result of escapes due to conflict with landowners, etc. To improve the situation, Tanaka decided to take 91 Japanese to Bolivia as workers in the area of rubber production managed by commercial companies with foreign capital, although it was not allowed by the Government of Japan to send Japanese citizens to Bolivia. In order to analyze this migration, it is necessary to deepen the following points: the involvement of the Japanese immigration company and the situation of the rubber industry in Bolivia at that time. Through the use of the documents stored in the diplomatic archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (Gaiko Shiryokan) and the excellent studies on the rubber boom at the end of the nineteenth century, we can understand the whole phenomenon of the Japanese migration in 1899.

Keywords : Teikichi Tanaka; Japanese immigration company; Rubber industry in Bolivia; Enganche system.