EAST ASIA IN THE MODERN WORLD - Essay Example

     East Asia in the Modern World Korean Immigrants Japan was presumed to be a nation of both emigration and immigration to Koreans. In the 1900s, a contingent of Korean immigrants moved to Japan in consecutive groups from imperial colonies. A large number of these Korean immigrants moved to Japan due to the harsh living conditions they experienced in their native country. What started as a flow of colonial immigrant laborers, extended to a sizeable number in the 1920s because the growing Japanese nation required additional unskilled and inexpensive workforce (Ebrey, Walthall and Palais 513).

During this period, Korean immigrants worked in labor-intensive industries scorned by Japanese.AdvantagesThe Korean immigrants were able to secure employment opportunities, for example, textile manufacturing, construction, and mining (Ebrey, Walthall and Palais 516). In addition, the living conditions of the Immigrants were enhanced due to the earnings they got from their cheap labor.DisadvantagesThe Korean immigrants were massacred in 1923, after the Great Kanto Earthquake. Also, the immigrant workers experienced extremely harsh conditions in their places of work (Ebrey, Walthall and Palais 514).

Some workers were beaten and others lynched in their different places of work.JapanA large number of immigrants from Japan moved from their native lands to different areas as a surge of reverse migration. In addition, these Japanese immigrants moved to other regions because Japan had won numerous wars during this time. Also, during this period, approximately eight hundred thousand Japanese citizens moved to Asia and the Pacific, Russia, South and North America. These people migrated to the different areas to seek appropriate economic opportunities (Ebrey, Walthall and Palais 521).

Moreover, approximately two and a half million Japanese individuals moved to Japanese colonies such as Korea, the South Sea Islands, Taiwan, and Sakhalin.AdvantagesThe Japanese immigrants were able to access employment positions in the different service and manufacturing industries. The immigrants produced development and change to the lives of the immigrants (Ebrey, Walthall and Palais 521). The Japanese immigrants were able to get access to improved opportunities to achieve their objectives, enhanced prospects, and enhanced living conditionsDisadvantagesNatives of the different countries treated the Japanese immigrants as inferior.

Also, these immigrants experienced social exclusion in the host nations due to ethnic prejudiced exhibited in the different social institutions (Ebrey, Walthall and Palais 524).ChineseThese people moved to different areas in search for work opportunities (Ebrey, Walthall and Palais 535). A large number of Chinese people migrated to Canada in the 1900s, to construct the Canadian Pacific Railway. The Chinese immigrants who went to Canada prior to 1924 were required to record their details to the local agencies and were only supposed to live in Canada for not more than two years.

They resided in Canada as bachelors because a large number of them could not pay the costly head tax for their family members to be with them. AdvantagesThe Chinese immigrants who were able to start families were able to get identical benefits as the natives (Ebrey, Walthall and Palais 536). Additionally, they got employment opportunities, for instance, numerous of them were employed at the Canadian Pacific Railway.DisadvantagesThey suffered from racism and an existing belief that they were a burden to the country.

The immigrants resided in perilous canvas tent that provide minimal protection (Ebrey, Walthall and Palais 536). Finally, a large number of them perished form diseases, for example, cholera and small pox.Work CitedEbrey, P. B., Walthall, A., and Palais, J. B. East Asia: A Cultural, Social, and Political History, Volume II: From 1600 (2nd ed.). Massachusetts: Houghton Mifflin, 2009.