Summary

Medal with wooden box, Shizoku, presented to Setsutaro Hasegawa, representing the Hasegawa family's identification as part of the Samurai class in Japan, circa 1882. Setsutaro's father was born a Samurai and Setsutaro would have been raised with the traditional Confucian principles. After World War II the Americans outlawed the samurai class in Japan. The inscriptions in Japanese script refer to the 'Imperial Association for the Promotion of Chivalry' and 'Certificate of Full Membership'.

Setsutaro migrated to Australia from Japan in 1897 at the age of 26, just four years before the introduction of the Immigration Restriction Act which severely limited migration to Australia from countries in Asia. He established a laundry business in Geelong and by 1911 he had married an Australian-born woman and had three children.

In 1941 Setsutaro was arrested as an enemy alien and sent to Tatura internment camp in northern Victoria. Released early in 1943 due to his age and poor health, unlike most Japanese interns he was not deported to Japan after the War. Setsutaro remained in Geelong for the rest of his life and died in 1952.

Physical Description

Silver medal in shape of shield, with Japanese script and a central floral decoration. Wooden box with purple lining and Japanese characters on the lid.

Significance

The Hasegawa collection enables the exploration of a number of important historical themes relating to migration, working life, and wartime internment in Victoria. Late nineteenth century and early to mid twentieth century Japanese migration and settlement experiences are little represented in the museum's collections and this collection of clothing, documents, personal items and photographs helps to redress this absence.

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