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Interviews

Tom Yuki

(b. 1935) Sansei businessman.
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Father's business partner operated their farming business during WWII

In 1940 when the war started of course we went to camp, but fortunately Tom Bunn continued to operate the business, and my father and Tom Bunn continued to correspond back and forth by telephone by telegram while we were in the Salinas Assembly Center. And I remember Tom Bunn coming to visit us in the Relocation Camp in Salinas, Rodeo Ground, and my father would get permission to go to the camp headquarters to meet with Tom Bunn. I went with him. Tom Bunn would bring me a stick of salami and my sister a doll. I don’t know how my father communicated with Tom Bunn while we were relocated to Arizona—Poston, Arizona—but somehow they did.

agriculture business economics farming management World War II World War II camps

Date: Mar 22, 2018

Location: California, US

Interviewer: John Esaki

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

Interviewee Bio

Tom Yuki was born on June 29, 1935, in Salinas, California. His father belonged to a farming partnership before World War II and was able to continue the business while incarcerated at Poston, Arizona, with the help of his business partner via telephone and telegram. After returning from Poston, the family moved to Los Gatos, California, and continued with their business. Tom went to the University of Santa Clara and joined the military, assigned to France as a Quartermaster officer. He was working as a contract administrator in a corporation when his father died, leaving Tom to take over the business as managing partner of Yuki Farms. Tom has served as board member to many organizations including his current role for the Japanese American National Museum. (December 2018)

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