Nagasaki Passenger Lists
Entrance to the Port of Nagasaki, Japan, 1919. GGA Image ID # 2176df744f
Nagasaki is the first port of entry for ships from the south or west to Japan and the final departure port for N.Y.K. steamers en route to Shanghai, Hong Kong, Manila, Australia, and other overseas places.
1929-04-20 Empress of Asia Passenger List
Steamship Line: Canadian Pacific Line
Class of Passengers: First and Second Class
Date of Departure: 20 April 1929
Route: Vancouver and Victoria to Manila via Yokohama, Kobe, Nagasaki, Shanghai, and Hong Kong
Commander: Captain A. J. Hailey, R.N.R.
The N. Y. K. steamers anchor in the harbor near the landing place, the Customs jetty, and frequent launch services are available between the steamer and shore.
Nagasaki is situated at the head of an inlet, stretching about three miles in length and half a mile to a mile in width. Its shores are marked by bays and rise up to densely wooded hills, creating a picturesque landscape.
Previous to the sixteenth century, it was a small, unnoted town, but becoming then the chief settling place of native Christians and mart of Portuguese and Spanish trade, it gradually rose to consequence, and, even after the suppression of Christianity and the exclusion of all Occidentals except the Hollanders, it continued to receive consult ration as the only place where foreign commerce, in the hands of the Dutch and Chinese, was tolerated.
While the rapid development of Moji, the northern port of Kyüshü, has somewhat diminished Nagasaki's former prosperity, it remains a vital port. Notably, it boasts a thriving ship-building industry, with the western shore of the harbor housing numerous ship-building yards. Among these, the Mitsubishi Dockyards and Engine Works stand out as the most renowned and finest in the East, employing a staggering 10,000 workers.
Nippon Yusen Kaisha (Japan Mail Steamship Company), The Charm of the East (Guide to Japan & China) for the Use of Passengers by the N.Y.K. Steamers, Tokyo: Tokyo Printing Company, Ltd., July 1919, p. 50.
⚠️ About Accuracy in Historical Records Research Tip
Context. The GG Archives presents passenger lists as faithfully as possible to the original documents. While OCR is generally accurate, portions of these collections—especially image captions and some transcriptions—are typed by hand and may include typographical or spelling variations. The original manifests themselves also contained clerical inconsistencies (names recorded phonetically, mid-voyage corrections, etc.).
What this means for your research:
- Search variant spellings of names (e.g., “Schmidt/Schmitt/Smith,” “Giuseppe/Joseph”).
- Cross-reference with immigration cards, passport applications, naturalization files, city directories, and newspapers.
- Treat manifests as primary sources with historical quirks—use them alongside corroborating records.
- For place names, consider historical borders and language variants (e.g., Danzig/Gdańsk, Trieste/Trst).
How to cite. When quoting a name from a manifest, consider adding [sic] for obvious misspellings and include a note such as “spelling as printed in original passenger list.”
Need help? If you spot a likely transcription error in captions, feel free to contact us with the page URL and a brief note—we love community input. 🙏
Curator’s Note
For over 25 years, I've been dedicated to a unique mission: tracking down, curating, preserving, scanning, and transcribing historical materials. These materials, carefully researched, organized, and enriched with context, live on here at the GG Archives. Each passenger list isn't just posted — it's a testament to our commitment to helping you see the people and stories behind the names.
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