MIYAMOTO Katsuyo
Born: 18 November 1884 – Died: 24 May 1945
Particulars:
Katsuyo was born in Wakayama Prefecture in 1884 and arrived in Western Australia in 1903, when he was just 19. He was single, and his mother Miyamoto Tomino was registered as his next of kin. He worked as a labourer and cook at the Pier Hotel in Marapikurrinya / Port Hedland, Western Australia. He was in Rubibi / Broome when the Pacific War began and the authorities started to arrest members of the Japanese community. The Japanese were firstly brought to the town oval, and then transported aboard the MV Koolinda for the long journey south, then interstate by train. Katsuyo was interned at Tatura Internment Camp, Victoria in 1942. He died in B Camp at 9pm on 24 May 1945, aged 51. Katsuyo now rests in the Japanese Cemetery in Cowra, New South Wales, Australia.
– Jo Anne Shiosaki
More info:
Michael Jalaru Torres, Jo Anne Shiosaki, and Rueben Lee-Chi
Artist/s Statement:
My grandfather was also interned at Hay and Loveday Internment Camps, and, sadly, was deported after the war, leaving my grandmother and mother behind. Thankfully he returned in the mid 1950s to work again in the pearling industry. Katsuyo exemplifies the spirit of many Japanese who journeyed to remote and often challenging locations in search of work and opportunity. Demonstrating determination, resilience, and a strong work ethic, people like Katsuyo contributed significantly to the communities they joined. What possessed them to venture so far from home? Perhaps it was the silent promise whispered by distant shores — a hope for a better life.
–Rueben Lee-Chi (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.
Rueben Lee-Chi was born in Broome, Western Australia, and has strong Indigenous ties to the Yawuru, Ngarluma and Bunuba nations. His family story reflects Broome’s rich multicultural history – both of his grandfathers came to the region to work in the pearling industry. One, originally from Beijing, China worked as a tender, while the other, from Wakayama Prefecture in Japan, was a respected head diver. Both men made significant contributions to the industry and were highly regarded in the community. Rueben carries forward their legacy, grounded in a deep connection to land, sea, and culture.