Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/1407/

Working in America

First of all, my aunt's husband, my uncle, he was a big shot in a Shopping Bag, super market. So the president is my uncle's friend. The president sponsored me to come back to the USA. So I worked about a month and a half in Shopping Bag. But, I don't understand English, so every time the customer asked me, I go to the back room again. How many times, back room and front and back and front. Soon, I'm sick and tired, and also I feel so bad for customers, so I quit.

Same time, friend of mine came from West Los Angeles. He asked me, "hey how much you making money?" And I say, week, so much. And he says, hey gardener, much better than you are making money, so come in! So I went to Sawtelle, and started gardener's helper.

Then I made other, because too much tension and frustration and so, I quit gardener, so I went houseboy. About a year. I tried to learn English, but to me, I guess no brain, so I couldn't pick up English. I need money anyway, so I went back to Sawtelle, and I tried truck driver. I worked in a small papa-mama size grocery store...

Only thing I didn't do was dish washing. Washboy. And finally, I went back to the supermarket again, and I worked 28 years until I retired. That's my life.


California generations Japanese Americans Kibei Los Angeles Nisei Sawtelle United States

Date: January 31, 2012

Location: California, US

Interviewer: John Esaki, Yoko Nishimura

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

Interviewee Bio

Edward Toru Horikiri (b. 1929), Kibei Nisei, was born in Little Tokyo, but moved with his family back to Japan when he was 18 months old. He was raised and educated in Japan during World War II, but decided to return to the U.S. in 1952 in order to re-establish the family business that was disrupted by the War. However, lacking sufficient English language skills, he did a variety of jobs including gardener, houseboy, truck driver, and grocery and supermarket employee. He continued to be involved in cultural activities through Japanese language community organizations and friendships with artists such as Taro Yashima. (June 2014)

Shigekawa, Sakaye

Differences in discrimination

(1913-2013) Doctor specializing in obstetrics in Southern California

Kozawa,Sumiko

Working at the family flower shop, meeting Greta Garbo

(1916-2016) Florist

Ito,Willie

Parents

(b. 1934) Award-winning Disney animation artist who was incarcerated at Topaz during WWII

Ohtomo,Hachiro

My daughter couldn’t fit in Japan, so I decided to go back to America (Japanese)

(b. 1936) Shin-issei welding business owner

Ohtomo,Hachiro

Facing discrimination in America (Japanese)

(b. 1936) Shin-issei welding business owner

Uchimura,Sawako Ashizawa

Move to Los Angeles

(b. 1938) Philipines-born hikiagesha who later migrated to the United States.

Toyoshima,Toshiaki

Going to America after completing a three-year contract twice (Japanese)

(b. 1949) Sushi chef. Owner of Sushi Gen restaurant in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo.

Toyoshima,Toshiaki

Becoming a member of nikkei community (Japanese)

(b. 1949) Sushi chef. Owner of Sushi Gen restaurant in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo.

Takashio,Akira

First impression of America (Japanese)

Shin Issei – owner of izakaya (Japanese-style tavern) and kappo (small Japanese diner) restaurant, Honda-Ya

Takashio,Akira

Longing for a life abroad and getting a chef’s license (Japanese)

Shin Issei – owner of izakaya (Japanese-style tavern) and kappo (small Japanese diner) restaurant, Honda-Ya

Takashio,Akira

Support from Nikkei (Japanese)

Shin Issei – owner of izakaya (Japanese-style tavern) and kappo (small Japanese diner) restaurant, Honda-Ya

Takamoto,Iwao

Return to Los Angeles

Japanese American animator for Walt Disney and Hanna Barbera (1925-2007)