The Uwajimaya Story
Uwajimaya is a food supermarket based in Seattle, Washington, USA, and is known to everyone. It started as a small family-run store in 1928 (Showa 3), and will celebrate its 90th anniversary in 2018. While many Japanese stores that once stood there have disappeared over the years, we explore the history and secrets of how the Moriguchi family has continued to grow and thrive.
Stories from this series
No. 9: From the village of Dandanhata to the village of Dandanha
April 13, 2018 • Ryusuke Kawai
Yawatahama City is located in the western part of Ehime Prefecture, Shikoku, facing the Uwa Sea. If you head south on National Route 378, which runs north to south, it eventually turns west and ends up in the small Shitama Bay. From here, the national route curves along the coastline as it continues south. The calm Uwa Sea can be seen on the right, and on the left are rows of houses, but behind them the road slopes up and …
Part 8: Following in the footsteps of successful people
March 23, 2018 • Ryusuke Kawai
It is not clear why Fujimatsu Moriguchi, who founded Uwajimaya, went to America in the first place, or what the trigger was. However, it is likely that it was related to the environment in the southwestern part of Ehime Prefecture where he was born, raised, and trained. In the area around Kawakami Village, Nishiuwa County, where Fujimatsu was born (present-day Yawatahama City), there was a growing enthusiasm for immigration and travel to America from the Meiji period, and many men …
7th Japan, Ehime, Nishiuwa District
March 9, 2018 • Ryusuke Kawai
When Japan opened its doors to the world during the Meiji period, a flood of Japanese people began to travel overseas. People went to various countries, including the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, Australia, and Southeast Asia, to study, to make a living, or in the hope of making a fortune. Looking at travels to America and Hawaii, there are famous examples of people who ended up living in America by chance after being shipwrecked at sea towards the …
Part 6: Roots of Uwajima City and Yawatahama City
Feb. 23, 2018 • Ryusuke Kawai
The name of Seattle's Uwajiamaya comes from "Uwajima" in Uwajima City, located in the southwestern part of Ehime Prefecture. Uwajiamaya's founder, Fujimatsu Moriguchi, was originally from Kawakami Village, Nishiuwa District, Ehime Prefecture (now Kawakami Town, Yawatahama City), about 40 kilometers north by car from Uwajima City. He worked in Uwajima as a fishery processing worker in his youth during the Taisho era, and so he used the name Uwajima as the store name. It is not clear what circumstances led …
Part 5: Looking back on 90 years of history
Feb. 9, 2018 • Ryusuke Kawai
Uwajimaya, which has been run by the Moriguchi family, who have their roots in Ehime Prefecture in Shikoku, took a new step last year when Dennis Moriguchi, grandson of the company's founder, Fujimatsu Moriguchi, became CEO. Uwajimaya has previously operated four stores, including the Seattle store, but last spring it opened a store called "Kai Market" in an office building in the South Lake Union district, about three kilometers north of Seattle city center. Also last spring, Uwajimaya opened a …
Part 4: Research subjects from Japan
Jan. 26, 2018 • Ryusuke Kawai
Starting out as a small grocery store, Seattle-based supermarket chain Uwajimaya has a 90-year history and is run by the Moriguchi family, who have roots in Ehime Prefecture. As a Japanese-owned, family-run chain, Uwajimaya has been a frequent subject of coverage in local media, and the reasons for its success and growth have also attracted attention from Japanese universities and are currently the subject of research. The group working on this project is led by Associate Professor Ryoko Sato of …
