$40.00
This is the 2016 Japanese edition of the book first published by Keeaira Press in 2013.
Prior to the World Warr II, thousands of Japanese were employed in the pearl-shell industry in the Torres Strait. Tomitaro Fujii left his village in Japan in 1925 at the age of 19 to work as a cook on a pearling lugger. With hard work and determination Tomitaro was promoted to skipper of a lugger and was well known in the Torres Strait pearl-shell industry for his skill as a diver especially in the Darnley Deep. Tomitaro married Josephine Chin Soon of Islander and Chinese descent and lived on Thursday Island until his internment during World War II when all Japanese in Australia were sent to war camps. He was one of the few Japanese nationals permitted to remain in Australia after World War II. Tomitaro returned to Thursday Island with his young family and spent the rest of his life there and he played an important role in promoting Japanese and Australian relations.
“It’s for you, Dad – hurry, it’s the embassy.” Tomi-san looked at his eldest daughter, his face an unspoken question. Tamayo shook her head and handed her father the phone. Tomi-san stretched his ageing body upright in a habit of respect from years gone by. He was dressed in his usual outfit, his shirt unbuttoned and cotton shorts hanging loose. Around his neck hung a small pearl-shell cross on a silver chain. “Hai, hai, hai,” he said. Tomi-san was practically standing at attention. Tamayo and Josie loitered nearby, anxious to hear the news. Tomi-san hung up the phone and turned to his family. He said in his usual no-fuss manner, “I’m going to Japan – to get a medal from the Emperor”.
Japanese edition 2016, cardcover, 126 pages, B&W photos and maps, ISBN-978-4-7887-1456-4
