The Unwritten Saga of East Asians Shaping Britain
Threads Across the Thames: The Unwritten Saga of East Asians Shaping Britain
From the bustling Chinatowns of London and Manchester to the quiet laundries of Edinburgh’s side streets, the footprints of East Asian immigrants are etched into Britain’s landscape—faint in some corners, bold in others, but woven into the very fabric of the nation’s story. For over a century, they have crossed oceans with little more than hope, trading familiar homelands for the uncertainty of a new culture, and in doing so, have left behind a legacy of resilience, innovation, and heart that deserves to be sung. These are not just tales of survival; they are stories of how ordinary people became extraordinary builders of communities, bridges between cultures, and quiet pioneers of progress.
The Early Pioneers: Woks, Washtubs, and Winning Trust
The first waves of East Asian immigrants to Britain arrived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, driven by economic hardship in China, Japan, and Korea. Many settled in port cities—Liverpool, Cardiff, Glasgow—drawn by the promise of work in shipping yards or as sailors. But it was in small, family-run businesses that they found their footing: laundries, where the steady hum of washing machines became a soundtrack to their determination, and chop suey houses, where the scent of soy sauce and ginger offered a taste of home to fellow immigrants and a curious introduction to East Asian culture for Britons.
Take the story of Wong Ah Sung, who arrived in London’s Limehouse district in 1902 with just £5 in his pocket. Unable to find work in the docks, he opened a tiny laundry on Gerrard Street, folding shirts and pressing suits for factory workers and shopkeepers. At the time, many Britons were wary of “foreigners,” but Wong’s meticulous work—he ironed collars until they stood stiff as cardboard—and his gentle demeanor won them over. Soon, his shop was so busy he hired other Chinese immigrants, creating a small community where people could speak their native language and share news from home. By the 1920s, Limehouse had become a hub of East Asian life, with laundries, restaurants, and grocery stores popping up along the streets—each one a testament to the courage of those who dared to start over.
In Scotland, Korean immigrants in the 1950s faced similar challenges. Park Min-Jun, a former soldier, opened a fish and chip shop in Aberdeen after struggling to find work in engineering. He added a twist: serving kimchi as a side, introducing locals to the tangy, spicy flavor of his homeland. At first, customers hesitated—some even asked if it was “safe to eat”—but Park persisted, offering free samples and explaining the history of the dish. Within a year, his shop was known as “the best chippy with a twist,” and he went on to help other Korean families open their own businesses, from grocery stores to beauty salons. These early entrepreneurs didn’t just make a living; they broke down barriers, one folded shirt, one plate of kimchi, one friendly smile at a time.
Mid-Century Builders: Science, Schools, and Strengthening Communities
By the 1960s and 1970s, East Asian immigration to Britain shifted. Many came as students, drawn to the UK’s world-class universities, while others arrived to fill gaps in the workforce—especially in healthcare, engineering, and education. These immigrants brought not just labor, but expertise, and their contributions began to shape Britain beyond the confines of Chinatowns and laundries.
Dr. Lin Mei, a biochemist from Taiwan, arrived in Cambridge in 1968 to pursue a PhD. At the time, she was one of only a handful of East Asian women in her department, and she faced doubts from colleagues who questioned whether a “foreigner” could excel in her field. Undeterred, Dr. Lin spent long nights in the lab, researching treatments for childhood leukemia. Her work led to a breakthrough in 1975, when she developed a new drug that improved survival rates by 30%. Today, that drug is still used in hospitals across the UK, saving thousands of lives each year. Dr. Lin went on to teach at the University of Cambridge, mentoring dozens of young scientists—many of whom are now leaders in their fields. “I came to Britain to learn,” she once said, “but I ended up teaching it something too: that talent has no nationality.”
In London, Japanese immigrants in the 1970s created community schools to ensure their children stayed connected to their culture while adapting to British life. The London Japanese School, founded in 1976, started with just 20 students in a rented classroom. Today, it has over 800 students and offers classes in both Japanese and English, helping children bridge two worlds. These schools weren’t just about education; they were about preserving identity—a gift that generations of East Asian Britons have carried with them.
Today’s Trailblazers: Food, Tech, and Fighting for Justice
Today, East Asians in Britain are making their mark in every corner of society—from Michelin-starred restaurants to Silicon Valley-style startups, from the halls of Parliament to the stages of the West End. Their stories are no longer just about survival; they’re about thriving, and about demanding that their voices be heard.
Tommy Tang, a chef from Hong Kong, opened his first restaurant in London’s Soho in 2005. Instead of serving the generic “Chinese food” that many Britons were used to, he focused on authentic Cantonese cuisine—dishes like roast goose with plum sauce and steamed fish with ginger and spring onions—made with ingredients imported directly from Hong Kong. Critics dismissed his idea at first, saying Britons “wouldn’t understand” the food. But Tang proved them wrong: his restaurant won a Michelin star in 2010, and today, he owns three restaurants across the UK, each one a celebration of his heritage. “Food is a language,” Tang says. “When people eat my food, they don’t just taste Hong Kong—they feel it.”
In tech, Dr. Kim Joon-Ho, a software engineer from South Korea, founded a startup in Manchester in 2018 that develops AI tools to help hospitals manage patient data more efficiently. His company now works with over 50 NHS trusts, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, his team created a tool that helped track the spread of the virus in care homes—saving countless lives. Dr. Kim says his success is a tribute to the community that supported him when he first arrived in Britain: “When I struggled with my English, my neighbors helped me. When I couldn’t find funding for my startup, other East Asian entrepreneurs gave me advice. That’s what we do—we lift each other up.”
East Asians in Britain are also fighting for justice, pushing back against racism and stereotypes that have long plagued their communities. In 2021, after a surge in anti-Asian hate crimes during the pandemic, a group of young East Asian activists founded “Stand With Asians UK,” an organization that advocates for racial equality and provides support to victims of hate crimes. They’ve organized marches, met with MPs, and created educational resources to teach Britons about East Asian history and culture. “Our stories matter,” says Mia Wong, one of the group’s founders. “We’re not just ‘foreigners’—we’re Britons, and we deserve to be seen, heard, and respected.”
A Legacy Woven in Hope
From Wong Ah Sung’s laundry in 1902 to Mia Wong’s activism in 2024, East Asians in Britain have left a legacy that is both deeply personal and profoundly collective. They have built businesses that feed and clothe communities, made scientific breakthroughs that save lives, created schools that preserve culture, and fought for justice that benefits everyone. Their stories are not just “East Asian stories”—they are British stories, stories of what it means to be an immigrant, a pioneer, a neighbor, and a citizen.
Walk through any city in Britain today, and you’ll see their mark: a Chinese supermarket in Birmingham, a Korean bakery in Leeds, a Japanese garden in Bristol, a Taiwanese doctor in a Newcastle hospital. These are not just places or people—they are testaments to the power of hope, the strength of community, and the magic that happens when different cultures come together.
The East Asian journey in Britain is far from over. There are still challenges—racism, underrepresentation, the pressure to “assimilate”—but there is also hope. Young East Asian Britons are growing up proud of their heritage, eager to share their stories, and ready to shape the future of the nation they call home.
As we look back on the decades of struggle and success, one thing is clear: East Asians have not just left footprints in Britain—they have left their hearts. And in those hearts, there are thousands of stories waiting to be told, sung, and remembered.