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)

Bert A. Kobayashi
en
ja
es
pt
Kobayashi,Bert A.

Being accepted as biracial family

(b.1944) Founder of Kobayashi Group, LLC

en
ja
es
pt
George Yamada
en
ja
es
pt
Yamada,George

Memories of railroad workers who stayed at family's prewar hotel in Spokane, Washington

(b. 1923) Chick sexer

en
ja
es
pt
Margaret Oda
en
ja
es
pt
Oda,Margaret

Growing up with Japanese language and values

(1925 - 2018) Nisei educator from Hawai‘i

en
ja
es
pt
Roberto Hirose
en
ja
es
pt
Hirose,Roberto

Growing up with some Japanese families (Spanish)

(b. 1950) Nisei Chilean, Businessman

en
ja
es
pt
Roberto Hirose
en
ja
es
pt
Hirose,Roberto

Retaining Japanese customs (Spanish)

(b. 1950) Nisei Chilean, Businessman

en
ja
es
pt
John Naka
en
ja
es
pt
Naka,John

Avoiding the Japanese military

(1914-2004) Nisei Bonsai master in the United States

en
ja
es
pt
Paula Hoyos Hattori
en
ja
es
pt
Hattori,Paula Hoyos

Her interests in Japanese culture (Spanish)

Sansei Argentinean

en
ja
es
pt
Paula Hoyos Hattori
en
ja
es
pt
Hattori,Paula Hoyos

The arrival of her grandpa (Spanish)

Sansei Argentinean

en
ja
es
pt
Paula Hoyos Hattori
en
ja
es
pt
Hattori,Paula Hoyos

The memory of her grandfather (Spanish)

Sansei Argentinean

en
ja
es
pt
Paula Hoyos Hattori
en
ja
es
pt
Hattori,Paula Hoyos

Studying Japanese to understand her grandfather (Spanish)

Sansei Argentinean

en
ja
es
pt
Ryoko Hokama
en
ja
es
pt
Hokama,Ryoko

From Japan to Argentina (Japanese)

(b. 1917) Okinawan, Issei Argentinean

en
ja
es
pt
Ryoko Hokama
en
ja
es
pt
Hokama,Ryoko

The most memorable day of his life (Japanese)

(b. 1917) Okinawan, Issei Argentinean

en
ja
es
pt
Ryoko Hokama
en
ja
es
pt
Hokama,Ryoko

How he met his wife (Japanese)

(b. 1917) Okinawan, Issei Argentinean

en
ja
es
pt
Kazuomi Takagi
en
ja
es
pt
Takagi,Kazuomi

Decided to leave Japan to Argentina (Spanish)

(1925-2014) La Plata Hochi, Journalist

en
ja
es
pt
Kazuomi Takagi
en
ja
es
pt
Takagi,Kazuomi

Tango makes him to stay in Argentina (Spanish)

(1925-2014) La Plata Hochi, Journalist

en
ja
es
pt