By Irene Butler

Photos by Rick

Published in “TravelingTales.com”

“He’s too short, and too ugly to marry,” said Asayo. At first it was thought this “picture bride” was in bad sorts from her long journey from Hiroshima Japan in 1923 – but she meant it. As was the practice of the time, Japanese immigrant workers chose a bride from a picture, then worked via a matchmaker to arrange her passage to Canada. Refusing to wed this troll-like man, Asayo was obligated to pay back the $250 it cost to bring her to the fishing village of Steveston, which she did by working in a salmon cannery for two years.

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