Summary

Pair of traditional Japanese women's sandals brought to Australia by Machiko Mizuta when she migrated as a war bride from Japan in 1952. Machiko Mizuta met Douglas Bryce, an Australian army engineer, during his posting to Kure in occupied Japan in the late 1940s. They married in Australia in 1953 and encountered both acceptance and prejudice before settling in a war service home in Clayton. Machiko remained in Australia with her children after Douglas' death.

Japanese brides initially received five year temporary residency visas. Then in 1956 after extensive lobbying by the Country Women's Association and the Returned Services League the law was amended to allow them to become citizens. This change was part of a gradually whittling away of the remnants of the White Australia policy.

Physical Description

Pair of traditional Japanese women's block sandals. The base is wooden, painted red with a gold, grey and black ibis design on each side. There is also a hole on each side of the heel, edged in metal with a small gold metal bell suspended in each. The soles are woven rattan with padded red fabric straps in a 'v' shape to slot between big and second toes. The underside of the bases are partially hollowed-out.

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