Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/1569/

Move to Los Angeles

Well, it was one of the requirement that we have a job, at the – someplace – minimum three months, and so we worked – no, parents worked at the Ishibashi strawberry farm for three months, and to pick the strawberries, and then the season was over at the same time that our agreement was also – ended, so we were free to leave. And they moved to Los Angeles, Boyle Heights.

So, after that, father wanted to learn how to become a gardener, because there were advices that you don’t have to know English, so he wanted to learn, and he lived in a boarding house, and then while she was – I mean, while he was in the boarding house learning how the – the trade of gardening, mother was doing seamstress and cleaning the house, she learned to do those.

And then I moved in with the American family as the schoolgirl or mother’s helper, to earn my allowance, as well as living expense, and then also to learn – I was told that then it’s the fastest way to learn English. So it was important for me to learn English as well as finish my high school.


Boyle Heights California immigration Los Angeles United States

Date: July 12, 2017

Location: California, US

Interviewer: Mitsue Watanabe, Yoko Nishimura, Leighton Okada

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

Interviewee Bio

Sawako Ashizawa Uchimura was born in Davao, Mindanao, Philippines on March 25, 1938 as the first daughter of Katsujiro and Ura “Mie” Ashizawa. She was 7 years old in 1945 when her family had to leave the Philippines after Japan’s defeat in World War II. Her family lived in Shizuoka for the next 10 years. ​Later the family received r​​esidency status in the United States ​and arrived in Los Angeles ​in March 1956. Sawako went to Alhambra High School and later studied at Pasadena City College. She eventually found a generous mentor who helped support her through her education at San Jose State University and became a​​n occupational therapist. Currently she is volunteering at the Sakura Garden (Formerly Keiro Retirement Home). (March 2018)

Oda,Harunori

Early impression of America

(1927-2016) Shin-Issei businessman

Toyoshima,Toshiaki

Going to America after completing a three-year contract twice (Japanese)

(b. 1949) Sushi chef. Owner of Sushi Gen restaurant in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo.

Takamoto,Iwao

Return to Los Angeles

Japanese American animator for Walt Disney and Hanna Barbera (1925-2007)

Horikiri,Edward Toru

Struggles with English (Japanese)

(b. 1929) Kibei Nisei

Toyoshima,Toshiaki

Becoming a member of nikkei community (Japanese)

(b. 1949) Sushi chef. Owner of Sushi Gen restaurant in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo.

Takashio,Akira

First impression of America (Japanese)

Shin Issei – owner of izakaya (Japanese-style tavern) and kappo (small Japanese diner) restaurant, Honda-Ya

Takashio,Akira

Longing for a life abroad and getting a chef’s license (Japanese)

Shin Issei – owner of izakaya (Japanese-style tavern) and kappo (small Japanese diner) restaurant, Honda-Ya

Takashio,Akira

Support from Nikkei (Japanese)

Shin Issei – owner of izakaya (Japanese-style tavern) and kappo (small Japanese diner) restaurant, Honda-Ya

Horikiri,Edward Toru

My father’s venture into the hotel business (Japanese)

(b. 1929) Kibei Nisei

Ota,Vince

Moving to and living in Japan

Japanese American Creative designer living in Japan

Yamada,Luis

A lucky man (Spanish)

(b. 1929) Nisei Argentinean

Kawakami,Barbara

Going back to Hawaii

An expert researcher and scholar on Japanese immigrant clothing.

Kawakami,Barbara

Picture brides and karifufu

An expert researcher and scholar on Japanese immigrant clothing.