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Brave Mrs. Sato Teaching Guide

Brief Picture 
Bride Story

Picture brides were women who arrived in Hawai’i, the West Coast U.S., Canada and Brazil at the turn of the 20th century to marry men they met in arranged marriages using photographs.

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It was a system meant to skirt anti-Asian immigration laws. The “Gentlemen’s Agreement” of 1907 was an informal agreement between President Theodore Roosevelt and the Government of Japan which prohibited immigration from Japan to Hawai’i or the continental United States, but did allow wives and children to reunite with men who had already immigrated.

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For plantation and farm owners, it was an opportunity to increase their labor force and entice their male workers to stay. It was also an attempt to reduce gambling and opium smoking among the men.

 

Many of the women simply followed the wishes of their families, since arranged marriages were common and often done for reasons of status and wealth. Other women, however, saw it as an opportunity to get away from family obligations and make their own fortune.

 

The matchmaker (nakoudo or baishakunin in Japan; jungmae jaeng-i in Korea) made the match in the family’s hometown. Couples were considered married when their names were submitted to the local temple, even if neither was present. Couples were then “officially” married once the women landed in Hawai’i or on the Mainland, often on the dock as soon as they disembarked.

 

In the 13 years between the beginning of the Gentleman's Agreement until 1920, more than 10,000 Japanese picture brides arrived on the continental U.S.and more than 15,000 in Hawai’i. The agreement was made obsolete by passage of the Immigration Act of 1925. It established a national origin quota system and banned Japanese immigrants until the law was repealed in 1952.

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– Lori Matsukawa

February 27, 2024

Article from The Seattle Times Daily describing the immigration case of a Japanese picture bride who left her husband soon after arriving in the US, saying he misrepresented his financial situation. January 22, 1920. Courtesy of The Seattle Times.

Resources

https://encyclopedia.densho.org/Picture_bride s/
 

https://www.history.com/topics/immigration/g entlemens-agreement

 

https://densho.org/catalyst/classic-novel-byyoshiko-uchida-chronicles-dreams-andstruggles-of-japanese-picture-brides/

 

Ochiai Hazama, Dorothy and Okamoto Komeiji, Jane. Okage Sama De: The Japanese in Hawaii 1885-1995. Honolulu: Bess Press Inc., 1986.

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Historical Novels

Brennert, Alan. Honolulu. New York: Macmillan, 2009.

Otsuka, Julie. The Buddha in the Attic. New York: Vintage, 2012.

Uchida, Yoshiko. Picture Bride: A Novel by Yoshiko Uchida. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2003.

Here are some ideas:

• Create a timeline by listing important dates and events. Add photos and sketches to make it fun! 

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• Pretend you’re a journalist and record your family members in a video. You might be surprised by what they remember! Always ask permission, first.

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• What does your family surname mean? Some cultures have symbols or crests to represent their families. Make your very own family crest.

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• Make a board game marking events along your family’s journey.

 

• Create a family tree, like this one. You can find more family trees, maps, and activities to print at the National Archives. They even feature ideas for making a family food tree—yum!

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Need more help? DocsTeach from the National Archives education division can help you find historical photographs, family documents, videos, and more. And it’s free!

 

©2024 Tammy Yee

Across the plains or across the seas, every family has a story that’s filled with courage. Exploring your family story may take a little detective work, but you might find help right at home or at your library. Make it into a fun activity during gatherings and ask as many family members as you can to help you with your family story.

Brave Mrs. Sato”

A Heartwarming Story of Intergenerational Friendship, Immigration, and Bravery

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In a little Hawaiian house with a mango tree, Cathy and her babysitter Mrs. Sato spend their afternoons arranging flowers, cooking, and having adventures. When Cathy has to move away, Mrs. Sato comforts her by sharing her own story of immigrating from Japan to Hawaii. Lori Matsukawa’s debut children's book shows readers how heritage, food, traditions, and stories can help them feel at home wherever they are. View Lori’s interview on King5.com.

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About the Author

Emmy-award winning journalist and pioneering TV anchor Lori Matsukawa graduated from Aiea High School, Phi Beta Kappa from Stanford University and received an MA from the University of Washington. She was Miss Teenage America 1974. She and her husband Larry live in Seattle and have a grown son.

Product details Publisher: Chin Music Press

ISBN: 9781634050395

Publication Date: 8/29/2023

Pages: 40

Size: 9(w) x 11(h) x 0.4 in

Type: Hardback Language: English

Illustrator Tammy Yee has worked on more than 40 children's books over her career. She lives in Hawaii.

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