The front page of the Japanese Perth Times. The masthead is written in Japanese. There is a stylised rat on the front page with the text "A Happy New Year!! 1996"

 (2018).  Japanese Perth times. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/title/1386

Newspaper Resources

Japanese Perth Times

Nichigo

Japanese Settlement in Australia

Japanese migrants first came to Australia in the late 1800s. Most worked in the industries of diving and sugar cane, while some took on service roles. Some came as part of indentured work schemes. The White Australia Policy curtailed the entrance of Japanese immigration initially, and the internment of Japanese nationals in Australia due to the conflict of World War II resulted in mass deportation, with only 74 Japanese nationals and their children allowed to stay after the internment ended. After the end of the White Australia Policy in 1973, the numbers have risen steadily. Almost 25 per cent of the Japanese-born population in Australia arrived between 2012 and 2016. There are now Japanese restaurants, supermarkets, societies and clubs to foster community inclusion; and capital cities host festivals to celebrate Japanese communities in Australia.

Japanese is the most widely studied foreign language in Australia, with figures from the Australian embassy of Tokyo showing upwards of 400,000 students across all levels of study. Japanese language newspapers in Australia provide insight into Japanese culture in Australia and The Japan Times Australian Edition, while printed in English, is available online and can be translated into Japanese for readers choosing to read in Japanese language.

Nine men stand on the deck of a small boat. One is wearing a hat, the others are not. Three men are sitting. In the background the ocean can be seen.

Flynn, John, 1880-1951. (1914). Japanese pearl divers, with Victor Kepert aboard a pearl lugger, Broome, Western Australia, ca. 1914, 1 [transparency] / [John Flynn?].  http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-142355485

Activities:

  • Have students write an article about a mystery (real or imagined). Use this exercise to make students consider writing style and tone. Students will need to demonstrate a range of writing and grammatical styles and consider the tone of the article, the audience and the purpose of the article.
  • Discuss the ways different language newspapers might be affected by the delivery of information from the land of origin.
  • Explore the articles and content of the newspaper resources linked above.

The National Library of Australia acknowledges Australia’s First Nations Peoples – the First Australians – as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of this land and gives respect to the Elders – past and present – and through them to all Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Cultural Notification

Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website contains a range of material which may be considered culturally sensitive including the records of people who have passed away.

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