ARAKI Otomatsu
Born: 25 December 1871 – Died: 27 August 1942
Particulars:
Otomatsu was born in Wakayama Prefecture in Japan in 1871. He arrived in Rubibi / Broome, Western Australia in 1893. Three years later, his wife joined him. In 1916 they were both recorded as being the proprietors of a boarding house on Sheba Lane. Otomatsu’s wife died well before the war. When the Pacific War began, the authorities arrested all Japanese. Otomatsu left his possessions in the care of his friend, Mr Wong. Together with his new partner Morita Oyeka, he was interned at Tatura Internment Camp on Yorta Yorta Country, Victoria. Otomatsu had a heart condition called aortic sclerosis and was first admitted to the Waranga Hospital in Tatura on the 17 August 1942, and again on the 27 August, when he died. He was 70 years of age and is now laid to rest in the Japanese Cemetery in Cowra, New South Wales, Australia.
–Jo Anne Shiosaki
More info:
Michael Jalaru Torres, Jo Anne Shiosaki, and Neil Hamaguchi
Artist/s Statement:
We created this photo at the old Short Street Gallery to capture the essence of Broome’s historic architecture, echoing the spirit of the early boarding houses. Originally established to accommodate men from the same region or prefecture, these homes welcomed gardeners, labourers, cooks, builders, and deep sea divers – individuals seeking affordable, stable lodging while working far from home. Beyond offering board, meals, laundry, and mending services, the boarding houses served as vital cultural havens. They were places where Japanese men could speak their language, share stories, and nurture a strong sense of identity and community. Rest in peace Otomatsu.
–Neil Hamaguchi (photographed)
Artist Bio:
Michael Jalaru Torres is an Indigenous fine art photographer and poet, born in 1976, in Broome, Western Australia. He is a Djugun-Yawuru man with tribal connections to the Gooniyandi / Jabbir Jabbir / Ngarluma peoples. He draws inspiration from the unique landscapes and people of the Kimberley region, which feature prominently in his work.
Jo Anne Shiosaki is a fourth-generation Nikkei who lives in Rubibi / Broome, Western Australia. Jo’s great-grandparents were one of the earliest Japanese families to migrate to Broome in the late 1800s. Her great-grandfather served as the President of the Japan Club in Broome before the war. She acknowledges the Nikkei community of Broome for helping to create these photographic images, and their willingness to share deeply personal experiences in order to preserve the memories of those who endured internment.
Neil Hamaguchi lives in Broome, Western Australia and has worked both in the pearling industry and in land protection and heritage, cultivating a wealth of knowledge. His life reflects how Broome continues to balance progress with preservation, and how individuals can carry forward both cultural memory and environmental responsibility.