Background
Murakami was born in 1880 in Tanami, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan.
村上 安吉
Murakami was born in 1880 in Tanami, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan.
He arrived at Cossack on the Saladin. Western Australia
On arriving in Western Australia Murakami worked on a number of jobs before securing work in a general store owned by fellow Japanese immigrant Takazò Nishioka. In 1900 he and Nishioka moved to Broome where they remained in business together.
When Nishioka died in 1901 his business transferred to his widow Eki.
In 1906 Murakami married Eki, who was much older than Murakami. 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.
He was remarried in 1920 to Shigeno "Theresa" Murata at the Broome Registry Office. In 1921 Murakami and Gregory formed a joint venture to produce cultured pearls, however government intervention scuppered the plans.
Murakimi"s and Gregory"s friendship caused consternation among the class-conscious local community.
Jockey
Murakami rode for trainer Ted Hunt in races at the Broome Turf Club with some success. Diving suit
In 1926 developed a patent for a suit for pearl divers that was lighter and more manoeuvrable than traditional suits. Despite this the suit was not commercially successful.
Darwin
In 1936, with Gregory"s assistance, he and his family moved to Darwin.
In Darwin he operated a successful photography business. World World War II
With the onset of World World War II and as a Japanese born Australian resident he was interned at the Tatura internment camp in Victoria.
He was separated from his family after he was accused of being a Japanese spy. Murakami died on 26 June 1944 at Tatura of a heart condition.
He was buried at a local cemetery but was later reinterred at the Japanese Cemetery in Cowra, New South Wales.