Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/1519/

After being discharged and returning to the nursery business

After my time was up, I went back to, well I was discharged in New Jersey so I went home to New York.

And Henry, the oldest one and George and Willy were already in the flower growing business. So they were looking for me and I was at the bottom of the ladder. They were telling me what to do. My two younger brothers, because they already know what to do. Well, we’re doing this and doing that, and doing that, you have to give us a hand.

It was kind of interesting to do that, and what else could I say? But I was there for five years, we worked together for five years. And we all got back on our feet, doing real well. Later on, they were doing even better. They’ve expanded and they all three retired from the five acres of land there. Dad was the one that says, “Yes, you’re not going to go out and lease a land. You’re going to go out and buy that place and make an effort.”


agriculture business economics farming flowers management plants postwar World War II

Date: February 6, 2015

Location: California, US

Interviewer: John Esaki

Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum

Interviewee Bio

Jimmy Ko Fukuhara was born on September 21, 1921 in Los Angeles, California to Japanese immigrants, Ume and Ichisuke Fukuhara. In 1927, his father moved the family to Santa Monica, California, and got started in the nursery business. After graduating from Santa Monica High School, Jimmy worked at the nursery, until 1942, when he and his family were sent to the Manzanar concentration camp.

Jimmy was able to leave camp early, and moved to Pennsylvania with his younger brother, George. Within sixty days, Jimmy was drafted into the army, and volunteered to serve in the Military Intelligence school. After going through basic training, Jimmy was sent to Tokyo, Japan. There he worked for the labor department in General MacArthur’s headquarters. Before leaving Japan, he visited Hiroshima in hopes of connecting with his parents’ relatives. After being discharged, Jimmy returned to Santa Monica and the family nursery business. Jimmy continued to work in the nursery with his four brothers, until he retired in 1986. (May 2016)

Janzen,Terry

Postwar school-life

(b. 1930) Half Japanese and grew up in both Japan and the United States.

Oda,Harunori

Getting started in America

(1927-2016) Shin-Issei businessman

Oda,Harunori

Expanding business

(1927-2016) Shin-Issei businessman

Oda,Harunori

Life Philosophy

(1927-2016) Shin-Issei businessman

Schneider,Jean Hamako

On international marriages (Japanese)

(b. 1925) War bride

Ohtomo,Hachiro

Business in Missouri (Japanese)

(b. 1936) Shin-issei welding business owner

Shikota,Antonio Shinkiti

Transition from a factory worker to starting his own business (Portuguese)

(b. 1962) Japanese Brazilian owner of a Brazilian products store in Japan.

Yuki,Tom

Father's business partner operated their farming business during WWII

(b. 1935) Sansei businessman.

Yuki,Tom

Japanese were not welcomed back to Salinas

(b. 1935) Sansei businessman.

Yuki,Tom

Able to settle easily in Los Gatos with foresight and luck

(b. 1935) Sansei businessman.

Fischer,Takayo

Being Confused about Racial Identity in Postwar United States

(b. 1932) Nisei American stage, film, and TV actress

Kakita,Howard

Reuniting with parents in America

(b. 1938) Japanese American. Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor