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A stunning historical graphic novel depicting the lives of four Japanese immigrants living in San Francisco between 1904 and 1924.
A singular and significant achievement, a "documentary comic book" published in San Francisco in 1931, depicting the true adventures of four young Japanese men in America between 1904 and 1924. Written and illustrated by Henry Yoshitaka Kiyama (ヘンリー木山義喬)—who emigrated from Japan at the age of 19, this is a stunning historical source that depicts the immigrant experience in California in what is one of the earliest examples of the graphic novel.
Translated with copious notes and a foreword by Frederik L. Schodt, the translation works to preserve the multilingual character of the original, which included Japanese, Cantonese, and English text.
"The cartoons by Henry “Yoshitaka” Kiyama capture the wonderful sense of humor and satirical irony Japanese immigrants retained in the midst of the anti-Japanese exclusion movement which cast them in the most sinister light. They depict the lives of ordinary Japanese immigrants with unerring accuracy."
—Yuji Ichioka, Research Associate, Asian American Studies Center at UCLA, and author of The Issei: The World of the First Generation Japanese Immigrants, 1885–1924
"Forty years before the birth of underground and alternative comix, Henry Kiyama was experimenting in comic strip form with comics as autobiography, comics as personal statement, comics as sociology, anthropology, and political science, not to mention comics as a comment on racial and class attitudes and antagonism. In a time when traditional comics didn’t dare venture into this territory, Kiyama covers it as a matter of course, as if his strip is no more or less than his bemused comic diary. It is that, but it is more, much more."
—Jules Feiffer, Pulitzer Prize–winning cartoonist
"For younger Japanese Americans who never had the privilege of hearing first-hand the recollections of immigrant forebears, the reincarnations of Kiyama’s work will offer a bittersweet look into the history of their people."
—Bill Hosokawa, principal historian, Japanese American Citizens League
"A treasure. Like the Yellow Kid and Jiggs & Maggie, The Four Immigrants Manga is a splendid and authentic example of the immigrant literature of the period. More candid and outspoken than any of its contemporaries, it is a classic that demonstrates the true literary role of the comics to reflect ordinary life. It is fun to read. It belongs in every library."
—Will Eisner, graphic novelist, creator of The Spirit
—Steven Okazaki, Academy Award–winning filmmaker
HENRY (YOSHITAKA) KIYAMA (1885–1951) came to San Francisco from Japan as a 19 year old and stayed nearly 30 years. After returning home he devoted himself to teaching and fine art.
FREDERIK L. SCHODT is a writer, translator, and interpreter who has authored several books on Japan, including Manga! Manga! The World of Japanese Comics, America and the Four Japans, and Dreamland Japan: Writings on Modern Manga. He lives in San Francisco.