Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/1101/

Supporting His Family (Japanese)

(Japanese) After coming back to Los Angeles, I went to adult school for 2-3 years. I could not ask my uncle for money and had to eat so I had to make it on my own. Also, around that time, my uncle was saying that I am at a good age to get married so I got married. Now, I needed to support my family as well. My wife was encouraging saying, “Why don’t you work part time and go to school?” But soon after getting married, I had a child so I could not take my wife’s suggestion either. So, after all, I worked. Luckily, with my friend’s introduction, I started working for UP (United Postal Services).

At UP, I thought I was not going to be useful if I did not know all the English words. However, I could read and they told me as long as I can sort packages, they would take me, then I was hired. The manager at the time really liked Japanese people. I started working at a plant near the Harbor Freeway on Ninth and Olympic. The only people that worked on Saturdays at this plant were Japanese Americans. Seven staff were always assigned (on the weekend). They did not use other ethnic groups at the time, not that there were that many other ethnic groups either.


Date: May 8, 2007

Location: California, US

Interviewer: Mistue Watanabe

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

Interviewee Bio

Mr. Yoshihito Yonezawa was born in 1930 in Nakaniidamachi, Miyagi Prefecture. After graduating from school in Japan, he learned agricultural technology at an agricultural testing facility and became an agricultural technician for the prefecture. Because of this background, his uncle who was a farmer in the United States, asked him to help his business. In July 1956, Mr. Yonezawa immigrated to the United States.

For the first 2 years, Mr. Yonezawa cultivated vegetables and fruits at his uncle’s farm in Imperial Valley, California. Around this time, his uncle starts taking Mr. Yonezawa to Miyagi Kenjinkai activities. Afterwards, his uncle suggested him move to Los Angeles to study English. While going to school, Mr. Yonezawa experienced various jobs to sustain his living. Finally, Mr. Yonezawa landed a job with UPS (United Parcel Service) and until his retirement in 1992, worked for the company for 32 years.

After retiring, Mr. Yonezawa became the president of the Miyagi Kenjinkai. Currently, he continues his duties as president and is active in his role. (February 2009)