• en
What's in a Name

mkochiyama
Licensing

Kihachiro Tajima

My father was born in Idaho and stayed in LA when he was 20.  He signed his last name as “Tashima” but when I came from Japan the officer of prefectural government said that I should sign “Tajima”, since then I have been using my family name as Tajima.

In Japanese, “Tajima” is meant to be “the island of rice field”.  My first name “Kihachiro” is “a man with 8 happiness in life” (lots of happiness).  That time there was a famous businessman, “Ookura Kihachiro”.  My parents wanted the same fortune in my life as he had.  Mr. Okura is a founder of Hotel Ookura.  

Based on this original

Story of a Name: Kihachiro Tajima
uploaded by mkochiyama
Kihachiro Tajima July 2011 Photo courtesy of Japanese American National Museum More »


Login or register
to contribute to the Nikkei Album

Welcome to the NEW Nikkei Album!

We've launched Nikkei Album in beta, so everyone can now start uploading and creating their own albums. There may be things that don't work quite right yet. Please email us to report any errors.

Browse the Nikkei Album

最新情報を入手

最新情報メールの配信登録

Journal feed
Events feed
Comments feed

プロジェクトをサポート

ディスカバー・ニッケイ

ディスカバー・ニッケイは、互いにネットワークを広げ、日系の体験談を分かち合う場です。プロジェクトを継続し、より良いものにしていくためには、皆さまのご協力が不可欠です。ご支援お願いします!

サポートの方法>>

プロジェクト企画 全米日系人博物館


日本財団