First Japanese immigrants arrive in Hawaii under the 1885 immigration convention

Background. Prior to 1885, Japan prohibited emigration to Hawaii due to concerns that Japanese laborers would damage the reputation of the Japanese race. This ban, which lasted from 1869 to 1885, was lifted following diplomatic negotiations, allowing for the first official wave of Japanese immigration to the Kingdom of Hawaii.

Arrival. The first Japanese immigrants arrived in Hawaii on February 8, 1885, shortly after the ban on emigration was lifted. They came as contract laborers specifically for the sugarcane and pineapple plantations, establishing a new ethnic presence in the islands.

Political Context. The arrival occurred during the reign of King Kalākaua, who was later forced to accept the Bayonet Constitution in 1887. The Hawaiian Kingdom, established in 1795, was a sovereign entity at the time of this immigration.