Biographical informationChi Yaie (aka Yae Yamamoto) was born in Ichodamura [Amakusa City], Shimoshima Island, Japan, c. 1872. She migrated to Western Australia in 1886. Family history relates how she ran away from her village to Nagasaki to avoid marriage to a man she did not like, and stowed away in the coal bunker of a ship to Fremantle, Western Australia.
She met Chi John, a pearler, in Cossack soon after arriving. They married in Roebourne 1890 (BDM 300224).
They moved to Broome in 1899. They had five children in Broome:
1) Violet Kicko (Kiku, aka Selina) born 1901 (BDM 150);
2) James Minero (Jimmy) born 1903 (BDM 375);
3) Gertrude born 1907;
4) Joseph born 1909 (BDM 1100018);
5) Mary Theresa born 1912 (BDM 1100005).
All of the children left Australia for lives overseas except for James 'Jimmy'.
Together with her husband she operated a boarding house and a Long Soup kitchen in Broome. She travelled overseas in March 2027, returning to Broome 23 December 1927.
She died in Broome in 1935.Other nameChi Yaie (differentiated name)Yae Yamamoto (also known as)Chi Tagibana (also known as)Chi Tajibana (also known as)Yai YamamotoDate of death1935