Interviews

1. Deciding to come to America

2. Voyage to San Pedro

3. Getting started in America

4. Early impression of America

5. Learning the nursery business

6. Gardening to nursery

7. Expanding business

8. Next phase

9. Life Philosophy

Oda,Harunori

(1927-2016) Shin-Issei businessman

Voyage to San Pedro

Anyhow we manage the, then October, start to getting for the Yokohama to getting on the ship to came out. I used the Japanese Nippon Yusen, called, Nippon Yusen was the biggest shipping company in Japan at that time. They had a new, called, New York Maru, that's a boat, the name of the boat is. That was a, cargo boat. They have special room for the five room, or the cabin for first class passenger only. Expensive but nice for the passenger.

But my boat is first stop is going to Vancouver, Canada. Then stay 2 and a half day, and the next day the boat is coming back to San Francisco to stop again. Then coming back to Los, San Pedro. So took 19 day together start to off the boat is 19 day.

boats generations immigrants immigration Issei Japan migration postwar Shin-Issei travel United States World War II

Date: February 2, 2012

Location: California, US

Interviewer: Chris Komai, John Esaki

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

Interviewee Bio

Harunori Oda was born and raised in Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan, but moved to the U.S. after meeting and marrying a Nisei woman who was visiting Japan in the post WWII period. Though he hated the U.S., his wife, Mitsy, convinced him that he would have greater opportunities for success in the U.S., so he decided to take the chance. Though his English skills were limited, he worked his way up through the nursery business—an enterprise he determined would offer the most opportunity for a person with his abilities. Eventually, he started his own nursery, expanded, and later achieved great success as a developer of real estate in Orange County. He passed away on December 14, 2016, at age 91. (December 2016)