Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/1346/

Expanding business

Then, every time, I get any extra income, I increased the more buy the seed or material, plant material, gradually little by little increase, or seed or plant protection and stuff. Then within the few year, gradually more looked like a nursery. Also, I continue to grow pansy for next 3 years, then 4th year comes I...no more surrounding property to do it, so I leased the Edison Company, the property in Anaheim near the Dale Avenue, near the Bukkyokai, Japanese Buddhist Temple, the area then finally, I leased the property from the Edison Company to start growing pansy.

Then after that, every year, every other year, gradually expanded more, more, and more property increased. Then before I move in San Juan Capistrano, I had eight location total about 88 acres growing ground. Nursery was that much expansion every year.



business economics generations horticulture immigrants immigration Issei Japan management migration nurseries (horticulture) 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)

Ito,Mitsuo

Chose to go back to Japan

(b.1924) Japanese Canadian Nisei. Interpreter for British Army in Japan after WWII. Active in Japanese Canadian community

Kadoguchi,Shizuko

Choice to move east or go to Japan

(b.1920) Japanese Canadian Nisei. Established the Ikenobo Ikebana Society of Toronto

Naito,Sam

Starting an import business after World War II

(b. 1921) Nisei businessman. Established "Made in Oregon" retail stores

Tanaka,Seiichi

Coming to America

(b.1943) Shin-issei grand master of taiko; founded San Francisco Taiko Dojo in 1968.

Inoue,Enson

The reason for coming to Japan

(b. 1967) Hawai`i-born professional fighter in Japan

Hashizume,Bill

Father’s success in farm business

(b. 1922) Canadian Nisei who was unable to return to Canada from Japan until 1952

Hashizume,Bill

Liaison between the Americans and the Japanese

(b. 1922) Canadian Nisei who was unable to return to Canada from Japan until 1952

Hashizume,Bill

Reason to come back to Canada in 1954

(b. 1922) Canadian Nisei who was unable to return to Canada from Japan until 1952

Iino,Masako

Interest in Japanese migration studies (Japanese)

Tsuda College President, researcher of Nikkei history

Kogiso,Mónica

History of her family's immigration (Spanish)

(b. 1969) Former president of Centro Nikkei Argentino.

Ota,Vince

Moving to and living in Japan

Japanese American Creative designer living in Japan

Ota,Vince

The reason to stay in Japan after his third year

Japanese American Creative designer living in Japan

Kobayashi,Bert A.

Getting involved in the family business at age 19

(b.1944) Founder of Kobayashi Group, LLC

Kobayashi,Bert A.

A body, mind and spirit work ethic

(b.1944) Founder of Kobayashi Group, LLC

Oda,Margaret

Taking over husband’s orchid farm and nursery

(1925 - 2018) Nisei educator from Hawai‘i