Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/1342/

Getting started in America

I was a lucky one because of this Torrance green house, my father-in-law set up for us all the farming house they bring in to sell, we can live in the house, two bedroom, pretty big size kitchen and stuff, more than enough we could live. So first time I came in was no trouble with the house with the beginning with it. So I was very lucky to start it.

But anything I start working, different from Michi kept telling me about it. I work the 10-hour day, even my uncle or father-in-law place, 10 or 12 people working together. We can not make anything special, so 10-hour day and 6-day a week, on the 150 dollar month. So that's not so easy money, you know. So time where Mitsui told me about is here is a big difference. But once I came here, no choice.



business economics families generations immigrants immigration Issei Japan management migration occupations (employment) postwar Shin-Issei 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)

Yuki,Tom

Father's business partner operated their farming business during WWII

(b. 1935) Sansei businessman.

Bashi,Kishi

His Shin-Issei parents

(b. 1975) Musician, composer, and songwriter

Yamashiro,Michelle

General reasons why people left Japan for Peru

Okinawan American whose parents are from Peru.

Yamada,Mitsuye

Her mother came to the U.S. with a group of picture brides

(b. 1923) Japanese American poet, activist

Yamada,Mitsuye

Her father bought her mother American clothes after she arrived from Japan

(b. 1923) Japanese American poet, activist

Naganuma,Kazumu

His sister Kiyo was like a second mother to him

(b. 1942) Japanese Peruvian incarcerated in Crystal City

Ninomiya,Masato

How he met his wife

Professor of Law, University of Sao Paulo, Lawyer, Translator (b. 1948)

Sakata,Reiko T.

Parent’s Marriage

(b. 1939) a businesswoman whose family volunterily moved to Salt Lake City in Utah during the war.