Other Canadian Japanese opened wholesale and retail businesses, import and export houses, or small service concerns. These gentlemen operated a drug store in the 1920s which also offered cosmetics, toys, and convenience items. Like Mr. Yashiki, the clerks wore Western dress and catered to an Occidental public. At first glance it might seem that farming and business had little in common, but they actually shared two vital similarities. As farmers and businessmen, these Japanese Canadians owned property. They employed Iabour themselves rather than serving as labourers. This made it possible for them to avoid a certain amount of the discrimination which they encountered as industrial workers. Moreover, both farmer and businessman operated in sectors which were hard to organize and regulate. Thus they also avoided a certain amount of the government harassment evident in regulations against Oriental miners, oshermen, and loggers. During and after the 1920's, sporadic attempts were made to withhold trading Iicences and impose unfair hours of business, but general discrimination proved impossible.
