Yasukichi Murakami

The area at the time was impoverished so his parents sent him with a relative in 1897 to Western Australia where they believed he would make his fortune in gold.

The business grew in size under the direction of the husband and wife team with the retail operations being supplemented by an import and export business as well as the institution of an unofficial banking operation for the local Japanese community.

[1][2][3] After the local economy began to experience difficulties he was forced to sell his business and he was engaged by pearler Ancell Clement Gregory to manage the Dampier Hotel.

[1] In 1921 Murakami and Gregory formed a joint venture to produce cultured pearls, however government intervention scuppered the plans.

[1][2][3][4] Murakami rode for trainer Ted Hunt in races at the Broome Turf Club with some success.