Taking over his father's business after father's accident

His family's migration to Salinas, California Father created a partnership to grow and ship vegetables Father's business partner operated their farming business during WWII Father was convinced the constitution would protect him Japanese were not welcomed back to Salinas Felt no hostility in Los Gatos, California after the war Able to settle easily in Los Gatos with foresight and luck Requested assignment in Europe to avoid combat in the Korean War Taking over his father's business after father's accident Mochitsuki tradition Feelings about redress Mr. Hirasaki brought World Fair Japanese pavilion to Gilroy

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Unfortunately, in November of 1967, my father was in an automobile accident. One week later he died. That changed my life completely. He was 62.

So I took a leave of absence from FMC corporation, because I had to take care of my father. But I soon realized after 6 months that from 6 months I’m not going to be able to return. The FMC gave me a year of leave of absence, when I knew I’m not going to be able to return to FMC. Running my father’s business became my full-time job. So at that time I was 32 years old.

Date: March 22, 2018
Location: California, US
Interviewer: John Esaki
Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum

agriculture business father