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)

Henry Shimizu
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Shimizu,Henry

Grandmother convinced his mother to return to Canada

(b. 1928) Doctor. Former Chair of the Japanese Canadian Redress Foundation.

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Henry Shimizu
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Shimizu,Henry

Government urged Japanese Canadians to go to Japan

(b. 1928) Doctor. Former Chair of the Japanese Canadian Redress Foundation.

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Venancio Shinki
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Shinki,Venancio

We go to America (Spanish)

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Peter Mizuki
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Mizuki,Peter

Not wanting to stand out as a foreigner

Sansei Japanese American living in Japan and Kendo practioner

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Ryoichi Kodama
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Kodama,Ryoichi

Moving to Brazil wanting to see the world (Japanese)

Kasato-maru immigrants

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Ryoichi Kodama
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Kodama,Ryoichi

In the boat on the way to Brazil (Japanese)

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Kodama,Ryoichi

Experiences in the farmlands (Japanese)

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Ryoichi Kodama
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Kodama,Ryoichi

The first Japanese driver in Brazil (Japanese)

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Henry Suto
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Suto,Henry

Didn’t speak Japanese until moving to Japan

(1928 - 2008) Drafted into both the Japanese Imperial Army and the U.S. Army.

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BJ Kobayashi
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Kobayashi,BJ

No question about going into the family business

Hawaiian businessman, developer.

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BJ Kobayashi
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Kobayashi,BJ

About Albert Chikanobu Kobayashi, Inc.

Hawaiian businessman, developer.

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Miyoko Amano
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Amano,Miyoko

Yoshitaro Amano’s Business in Japan (Japanese)

(b. 1929) President of Amano Museum

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Miyoko Amano
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Amano,Miyoko

Yoshitaro Amano’s Tuna Fishing Boat (Japanese)

(b. 1929) President of Amano Museum

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Toshiro Konishi
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Konishi,Toshiro

Inspirations for Living Abroad (Japanese)

(b. 1962) Japanese restaurant owner and chef in Peru

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Toshiro Konishi
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Konishi,Toshiro

Difference Between Past Immigrants and Today’s Immigrants (Japanese)

(b. 1962) Japanese restaurant owner and chef in Peru

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