Portraits of four prominent Issei Pioneers: Yaemon Minami, Keisaburo Koda, George Shima and Kyutaro Abiko. Individual oval portraits are set in separate quadrants on a field of purplish-blue with white lettering at center identifying men: "Four Pioneers; I Yauemon Minami; II Keisaburo Koda; III George Ushijima; IV Kyusaburo Abiko." Upper left portrait of Yaemon Minami with caption, "I Lettuce King," shows an elderly man wearing glasses in a black suit and tie and a medal on a white ribbon. Upper right portrait of Keisaburo Koda with caption, "II Rice King," shows a white haired, dark eyebrowed older man in a black suit and bow tie. Lower right portrait of George Shima with caption, "III Potato King," shows a dark haired, mustached man in a black suit and tie. Lower left corner portrait of Kyutaro Abiko with caption, "IV Founder of Yamato Colony," shows a greying mustached older man in a black suit and tie.

Inscription
Signed in medium, lower left corner: Henry Sugimoto

painting
H: 35.5 in, W: 28.75 in
canvas
oil

c. 1970

(92.97.114)

Gift of Madeleine Sugimoto and Naomi Tagawa, Japanese American National Museum

Henry Sugimoto Collection

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Copyright is held by the Japanese American National Museum. Short-term educational use with limited circulation is permitted. For all other uses, please contact the Hirasaki National Resource Center at the Japanese American National Museum (hnrc@janm.org)