The first Japanese that came to New Zealand were circus entertainers in 1874. Before World War II there were only a few Japanese in New Zealand who were mainly wool traders. In the war many Japanese were imprisoned in New Zealand. When the war ended relations between Japan and New Zealand were restored. Some New Zealand soldiers married Japanese women who found life difficult at one time to adjust to in New Zealand due to differing cultures.

In the 1960s New Zealand people began liking things of Japan like pottery. In the late 1980s many more Japanese came to live in New Zealand as there were changes in immigration laws. Many of them live in Auckland which has the largest number of them and some Japanese live in other New Zealand cities such as Wellington. There are Japanese markets in these cities. The Japanese are involved in finance in New Zealand among other things. Some of the women are au pairs. There are Japanese restaurants.

In the 1990s, Japanese students came to New Zealand. The Japanese like New Zealand as it is less crowded than the big Japanese cities. Japanese Karaoke and garden design are well liked in New Zealand too.

* As with the Japanese in general pray that the Japanese in New Zealand will not place so much emphasis on materialism.
* Pray that they will search for spiritual things and give their lives to Jesus Christ.

www.teara.govt.nz/en/japanese