Telling Our Stories: Japanese Americans in the San Fernando Valley, 1910's - 1970's

Telling Our Stories: Japanese Americans in the San Fernando Valley, 1910's - 1970's

Rebuilding their lives (Burbank Trailer Park II, circa 1945)
After internment, many Japanese Americans originally from the San Fernando Valley, returned to find out that they no longer had a home to return to. Thereafter, trailer park camps, such as in Burbank and Sun Valley, became home to many Japanese Americans.
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Burbank Trailer Park II, circa 1945
Image Contributed by: The Bancroft Library. University of California, Berkeley
Names of people: N/A
Date: circa November 1945
Place: Lake View Terrace, CA, U.S.A.
Photograph by: Charles E. Mace
Original Photo size:
Description: Whiling time away in the Winona Housing project at Burbank, California, where temporary trailer quarters are provided while returnees locate permanent homes in and around Los Angeles.
© California State University, Northridge 2008
For more information about this project, please contact:
Edith Chen, Professor Asian American Studies Dept.
18111 Nordhoff St., JR 340
Northridge, CA 91330-8251
edith.chen@csun.edu
818-677-4966
Nancy Takayama
San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center
nt.high.mtn@juno.com

San Fernando Valley Then (Tsuneishi Farm )
"Before the war, the Northridge area was mostly citrus, lemons, grapefruit, orange, and toward Canoga Park, it was mostly dry farm because they didn’t have any water facilities and that part of San Fernando Valley was the lowest part of San Fernando Valley, so in the winter it was called black frost, which would kill everything. So during the summer they grew out alpha navy beans and that type of crop."
~James Higashida
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Tsuneishi Farm
Image Contributed by: Tsuneishi
Names of people:
Date:
Place:
Photograph by:
Original Photo size:
Description:
© California State University, Northridge 2008
For more information about this project, please contact:
Edith Chen, Professor Asian American Studies Dept.
18111 Nordhoff St., JR 340
Northridge, CA 91330-8251
edith.chen@csun.edu
818-677-4966
Nancy Takayama
San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center
nt.high.mtn@juno.com

Life on the Farm (Tsuneishi First Home, circa 1917)
"The one (house) in North Hollywood was a four-room shack. It had a sink, no built in’s, a refrigerator, or maybe an ice box, and then when we made a little money, we bought a cold spot Sears refrigerator, and then of course our toilet facilities were out housed, about a hundred yards from the house."
~Bo Sakaguchi
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Tsuneishi First Home, circa 1917
Image Contributed by: Tsuneishi
Names of people:
Date: circa 1917
Place:
Photograph by:
Original Photo size:
Description:
© California State University, Northridge 2008
For more information about this project, please contact:
Edith Chen, Professor Asian American Studies Dept.
18111 Nordhoff St., JR 340
Northridge, CA 91330-8251
edith.chen@csun.edu
818-677-4966
Nancy Takayama
San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center
nt.high.mtn@juno.com

Brave Acts (Takeuchi girls, circa 1955)
Despite the country's anti-Japanese sentiment, a few non-Japanese did reach out to assist and help Japanese Americans. Before being interned, some families left their cars and other valuables with their neighbors. Others were surprised by the unusual kindness of their Caucasian acquaintances during internment.
"The only visitor I had in the year and a half I was in camp; Dr. Edwards. And you know I appreciated what he did (recommending Dr. Oda to a Medical School) and I said, Dr. Edwards came all the way out to Manzanar and my daughter said, “Mom do you realize he was jeopardizing his own position by coming out to see you?” And I didn’t realize that, and she said, “Gee, he really went out of his way to see you.” Because he must of felt bad that I was in camp, that we were all in camp, all of us Japanese were in camp and he must have sensed that it wasn’t right either."
~ Mary Oda
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Takeuchi girls, circa 1955
Image Contributed by: Ritsuo Takeuchi
Names of people:
Date: circa 1955
Place: Judd Street,
Photograph by:
Original Photo size:
Description:
© California State University, Northridge 2008
For more information about this project, please contact:
Edith Chen, Professor Asian American Studies Dept.
18111 Nordhoff St., JR 340
Northridge, CA 91330-8251
edith.chen@csun.edu
818-677-4966
Nancy Takayama
San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center
nt.high.mtn@juno.com

Migrating to America (Takeuchi Family Portrait in Japan, circa 1905)
In 1885 a large number of Japanese immigrants arrived in Hawaii, soon after around the mid-1890’s many secondary-migrated to the U.S. Mainland. Of those who came to California, a large number settled in the San Fernando Valley.
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Takeuchi Family Portrait in Japan, circa 1905
Image Contributed by: Ritsuo Takeuchi
Names of people: Fujiko Kusumi - Imai, Irene Imai (baby), servant girl (right)
Date: circa 1905
Place: Niigata (Tokyo), Japan
Photograph by:
Original Photo size:
Description:
© California State University, Northridge 2008
For more information about this project, please contact:
Edith Chen, Professor Asian American Studies Dept.
18111 Nordhoff St., JR 340
Northridge, CA 91330-8251
edith.chen@csun.edu
818-677-4966
Nancy Takayama
San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center
nt.high.mtn@juno.com

Gaman (Takeuchi boy and car)
"Sure, there were discriminations; there are places where they hesitate to go, because my dad spoke very little English. My mother was a Nisei, she went to Grammar school where she spoke English very well. However, there was a certain amount of discrimination that was Gaman (endurance) and Shikataganai (accepting what cannot be helped) , that came into play, so it didn’t really bother to us."
-James Higashida
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Takeuchi boy and car
Image Contributed by: Ritsuo Takeuchi
Names of people: Ritsuo Takeuchi, 9 years old
Date: circa 1945
Place: Judd Street, Pacoima
Photograph by: Barry Tamura
Original Photo size:
Description:
© California State University, Northridge 2008
For more information about this project, please contact:
Edith Chen, Professor Asian American Studies Dept.
18111 Nordhoff St., JR 340
Northridge, CA 91330-8251
edith.chen@csun.edu
818-677-4966
Nancy Takayama
San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center
nt.high.mtn@juno.com

Lost Fortunes (New Mothers 1940)
Due to the swift and forced evacuation of the Japanese Americans in the San Fernando Valley many lost their homes, their vehicles, and other priceless artifacts such as photographs and family heirlooms. However, some who wanted to prove their loyalty to America disposed of any and all items that linked them to Japan. Also, racism and discrimination was often experienced.
"The land, the title of the land was in my mother’s name because she was a US citizen, and we had a neighbor, a German neighbor and he watched our place while the family was at camp, but I understand that a family moved into the house and lived in our house during the war.
-Jane Muranaka
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New Mothers 1940
Photo contributed by: Bill Watanabe
Names of people: Unknown
Date: Unknown
Place: Sun Valley, CA, U.S.A.
Photograph by: Unknown
Photo size: Unknown
Description: New mothers in Sun Valley, California at the Watanabe home.
© California State University, Northridge 2008
For more information about this project, please contact:
Edith Chen, Professor Asian American Studies Dept.
18111 Nordhoff St., JR 340
Northridge, CA 91330-8251
edith.chen@csun.edu
818-677-4966
Nancy Takayama
San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center
nt.high.mtn@juno.com

Japanese American roots at Cal State University, Northridge (Settling in the San Fernando Valley, CA (Aerial View of Kawakami Family Ranch))
The Muranaka family settled in San Fernando Valley after the war and started farming. Shortly after, they Muranakas were forced to sell their land to Los Angeles City schools at a fraction of its value. Parts of California State University, Northridge and Porter Middle School was formerly their farmland.
"My father was arguing about whether the school needed all the ground or not and, he said they wanted all of it. My dad wanted to keep that[part of their property] to keep the equipment and stuff because it was still home base to the farming operation. He said no, no, no, no, the city wants that, the school wants that. As I understood it later, the city, the school never took title to that ground that the procure man guy did and he turned around and sold it to the developers for a profit. Which is pretty bad you know, but that’s the way it was. I asked my dad about it later and he goes hey Roy, he says, that was only 10 years after the war, you got no chance to stand up to anyone then."
~Roy Muranaka
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Settling in the San Fernando Valley, CA (Aerial View of Kawakami Family Ranch)
By the 1920’s the San Fernando Valley had become a large and successful agricultural center. Most Issei (first generation) and Nisei (second generation) were involved in the farming industry. However, due to the 1913 and 1920 California Alien Land Law, which restricted Japanese Americans from owning land, many Japanese farmers and gardeners were reduced of acreage and profits.
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Image Contributed by: Jane Muranaka
Names of people:
Date: circa early 1950s
Place: Kwakami family ranch in Sunland, California
Photograph by: Toyo Miyotaka
Original Photo size:
Description: This is one of the photos that Saichi, a first-generation Issei, would have professionally shot each New Year. This land was purchased by the Kawakami family in 1933 and placed under Chizu Kawakami's name. Chizu, Saichi's wife, was born in the United States and therefore was not blocked by the Alien Land Law. Thus, unlike many Japanese Americans, the Kawakami's owned their land throughout their internment so that they had a home to which to return when they were released.
Pictured are peach blossoms and renunkulas. This photo reflects the arduous labor and time it took for Saichi and his family to get back on their feet after Internment. Immediately after the family was released, some members stayed at Manzanar while Saichi went back to the ranch in Sunland to replant the gardens and to wait for the tenants to which the home had been rented to finally leave. Once the rest of the Kawakami's returned it would take years for the family to re-establish their lives.
© California State University, Northridge 2008
For more information about this project, please contact:
Edith Chen, Professor Asian American Studies Dept.
18111 Nordhoff St., JR 340
Northridge, CA 91330-8251
edith.chen@csun.edu
818-677-4966
Nancy Takayama
San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center
nt.high.mtn@juno.com

Farming in the San Fernando Valley (Kawakami Flower Ranch)
Nonetheless, Japanese American farmers were highly successful despite law restrictions. They would lease or buy small plots of land, and specialize in crops that were labor-intensive. Japanese farmers grew produce such as raised bunch vegetables. (I.e., carrots, green onions, turnips, lettuce, cabbage, tomatoes, also a few farmers grew cantaloupes, strawberries and potatoes).
"(We)usually had about 15 acres and we grew carrots and green onions and cabbage... and once we had some potatoes and cucumbers."
~ Mary Oda
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Kawakami Flower Ranch
Image Contributed by: Jane Muranaka
Names of people:
Date: early 1950s
Place: Kawakami Ranch in Sunland, California
Photograph by: Toyo Miyatake
Original Photo size:
Description: Each year, Saichi Kawakami, an accomplished wholesale flower grower who raised a family of eight, would hire a photographer to take new pictures of the family ranch. Saichi would then send these pictures to family in Japan to show the progress he was making in America. Pictures would be taken in the winter, when flower gardening profits were highest, providing Saichi with the financial means to hire professional photagrapher Toyo Miyatake, who was widely known in the Japanese American community. Pictured are stocks, one of the dozen different types of flowers that the Kawakami family grew at their ranch.
© California State University, Northridge 2008
For more information about this project, please contact:
Edith Chen, Professor Asian American Studies Dept.
18111 Nordhoff St., JR 340
Northridge, CA 91330-8251
edith.chen@csun.edu
818-677-4966
Nancy Takayama
San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center
nt.high.mtn@juno.com

Gardening (Family and garden)
Japanese gardeners also thrived, growing flowers and plants other gardeners had little patience for. They found the climate in the San Fernando Valley was ideal for growing flowers.
“Flowers we grew were either renunculas or anemones, which we grew in these cheesecloth tents that we would put up every year.”
~ Bill Watanabe
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Family and garden
Image Contributed by: Jane Muranaka
Names of people:
Date:
Place:
Photograph by:
Original Photo size:
Description:
© California State University, Northridge 2008
For more information about this project, please contact:
Edith Chen, Professor Asian American Studies Dept.
18111 Nordhoff St., JR 340
Northridge, CA 91330-8251
edith.chen@csun.edu
818-677-4966
Nancy Takayama
San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center
nt.high.mtn@juno.com

World War II-Leaving Home (Kawakami Family Portrait)
After the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941 and the declaration of war against Japan, Executive Order 9066 was put into action and Japanese Americans on the West coast were forced to evacuate. With little notice, many people were forced to sell their belongings quickly, most for pennies on the dollar.
"We had a virtually new refrigerator and the day before they were supposed to leave, a gentleman came by, wanted to know if they wanted to sell anything. So my Dad says, 'I’ve got the refrigerator,' and the gentelman says, 'I’ll give you a dollar for it.' So my dad tells him 'no.' And the fellow replies, "Well, it’ll be free tomorrow cause you’ll be gone and you can’t take it with you.' So my dad put it on the street and drove over it with a truck."
~Roy Muranaka
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Kawakami Family Portrait
Image Contributed by: Jane Muranaka
Names of people: Saichi, Chizu, Grace, Richard, and Zinnia Kawakami
Date: 1939
Place: Roscoe, California
Photograph by:Unknown
Original Photo size: Unknown
Description: Many Japanese Americans dressed up on New Year's Day. "That was only time that we were not working." This photo was taken in front of the garage where Saichi Kawakami kept his vehicles over the years. The family owned farm vehicles and one family car.
© California State University, Northridge 2008
For more information about this project, please contact:
Edith Chen, Professor Asian American Studies Dept.
18111 Nordhoff St., JR 340
Northridge, CA 91330-8251
edith.chen@csun.edu
818-677-4966
Nancy Takayama
San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center
nt.high.mtn@juno.com

World War II-Internment Camps (Group picture)
Camps were located in California, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Arkansas, and Idaho. Out of those who went to camp 2/3 were Nisei, American-born and 1/3 were Issei. The average amount of time that they were interned was 2.5 years.
"We sort of had an unconscious knowledge that we were put on an inferior status... So we knew we had a second class status and we sort of accepted it. That's why when they told us, you have to drop everything and go to camp, nobody protested."
~ Dr. Mary Oda
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Group picture
Image Contributed by: Bo Sakaguchi
Names of people: (Top Row)James Higashida, Chico Sakaguchi, Nob Nitta, Lilly Sakaguchi, George Oda, Henry Higashida, Harumi Nita, Mas Oda, Ishibashi, Mas Imamoto, Oda, Shig Nitta, Michi Imamoto, ?, Bo Sakaguchi
(Middle Row)Toshinitta, Ishibashi, Imamoto, Imamoto, Higashida, Sakaguchi, Nitta, Oda, Nitta
(Bottom Row) Haruki Nitta, Ishibashi, Sakaguchi, Imamoto
Date: circa late 1943
Place: Manzanar
Photograph by: Toyo Miyatake
Original Photo size:
Description: The farmers of North Hollywood in Manzanar just before some separated to Tule Lake.
© California State University, Northridge 2008
For more information about this project, please contact:
Edith Chen, Professor Asian American Studies Dept.
18111 Nordhoff St., JR 340
Northridge, CA 91330-8251
edith.chen@csun.edu
818-677-4966
Nancy Takayama
San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center
nt.high.mtn@juno.com

World War II-Internment Camps (Sakaguchi family and friends)
"It was very difficult. Apparently, the houses were ready and we came in busload. In May, Manzanar, it was cold and windy, the wind was just horrendous. We were given a mattress cover and we had to go to pile of hay and stuffed it in, and that was our mattress for about six months. And the bad part of that was there were ticks and we used to get bites and it was very difficult. "
-James Higashida
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Sakaguchi family and friends
Image Contributed by: Bo Sakaguchi
Names of people: Bo Sakaguchi, Ogura, ?, Tsutsui, Sakaguchi, Tsutsui, Sakaguchi, Ogura
Date: circa 1943
Place: Manzanar
Photograph by: Toyo Miyatake
Original Photo size:
Description: Winter of 1943 after a snow fall. Block 11 Manzanar
© California State University, Northridge 2008
For more information about this project, please contact:
Edith Chen, Professor Asian American Studies Dept.
18111 Nordhoff St., JR 340
Northridge, CA 91330-8251
edith.chen@csun.edu
818-677-4966
Nancy Takayama
San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center
nt.high.mtn@juno.com

America is Our Home (Mr. Sakaguchi and children )
Despite the hardships, discrimination, and trauma that the Issei and Nisei endured many are proud to call America their home because it is where they grew up or raised their families.
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Mr. Sakaguchi and children
Image Contributed by: Bo Sakaguchi
Names of people: Chico, Mary Oda, Lily, Sanbo, Chebo, Bo, Obo, Shiichiro
Date: Circa 1931
Place: Burbank, Ca. (Alameda St. Near Victory)
Photograph by:
Original Photo size:
Description: Sakaguchi family on the farm harvesting turnips.
© California State University, Northridge 2008
For more information about this project, please contact:
Edith Chen, Professor Asian American Studies Dept.
18111 Nordhoff St., JR 340
Northridge, CA 91330-8251
edith.chen@csun.edu
818-677-4966
Nancy Takayama
San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center
nt.high.mtn@juno.com

Home Life (Family Meal Circa 1954)
Although there was a great deal of anti-Japanese sentiment due to labor competition and international relations, the Japanese Americans in the San Fernando Valley made it their home. They attended church, raised families, family excursions and merged their new western lifestyle with their traditional culture.
"My mother used make like eggs and white rice or fried rice for breakfast.. she used to make rice just so that it was kind of crunchy, not too hard. Just right."
~ Bill Watanabe
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Family Meal Circa 1954
Photo contributed by: Bill Watanabe
Names of people: Rokuro, Katsuye, Yoshimichi, and Yoshiyuki Watanabe with friend Fred Ishihara
Date: circa 1954
Place: Granada Hills, CA, U.S.A.
Photograph by: Unknown
Photo size: Unknown
Description: The evening meal was always a special time for the family to come together and discuss daily events.
© California State University, Northridge 2008
For more information about this project, please contact:
Edith Chen, Professor Asian American Studies Dept.
18111 Nordhoff St., JR 340
Northridge, CA 91330-8251
edith.chen@csun.edu
818-677-4966
Nancy Takayama
San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center
nt.high.mtn@juno.com

Women's Roles-No Time Off (Children in the Field 1939)
Farm life proved to be very difficult for many Japanese Americans in the San Fernando Valley, most working from sunrise to sundown. Many women juggled three full time roles: mother, wife and farmer.
"The women folk worked really hard. You know the saying they have about women…the work is never done. That was absolutely true. Using my mother as an example, she woke up early, made breakfast for everybody. If there was hired help…she had to make them breakfast and send them off to work and as soon as she finished that, out to the fields she went. Then come home half an hour early so she could prepare for lunch…So the women worked really hard I have to give them a lot of credit for that."
~Ritsuo Takeuchi.
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Children in the Field 1939
Photo contributed by: Bill Watanabe
Names of people: Kinichi Watanabe, Kimi Oshiyama, Kinjaro Watanabe, and Takeshi Watanabe
Date: 1939
Place: Shadow Hills, CA, U.S.A.
Photograph by: Unknown
Photo size: Unknown
Description: A picture in the Watanabe flower fields in Shadow Hills with Watanabe boys and neighbors daughter Kimi Oshiyama.
© California State University, Northridge 2008
For more information about this project, please contact:
Edith Chen, Professor Asian American Studies Dept.
18111 Nordhoff St., JR 340
Northridge, CA 91330-8251
edith.chen@csun.edu
818-677-4966
Nancy Takayama
San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center
nt.high.mtn@juno.com

Dangerous Work (First Born 1934)
"My mother had a stillborn. Before my youngest daughter was born and what cause that the doctor said was that she was out one day trying to scare the birds away from the crops, you know? Lettuce crops or something. She took a shotgun and fired to scare them, boom. That shock, that recoil, knocked her down, sat her on her back, you know, real bad. And that shock hurt the baby inside. It was stillborn."
~Frank Emi
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First Born 1934
Photo contributed by: Bill Watanabe
Names of people: Rokuro, Katsuye, and Kinichi Watanabe
Date: 1934
Place: Shadow Hills, CA, U.S.A.
Photograph by: Unknown
Photo size: Unknown
Description: A day out for couple Rokuro and Katsuye Watanabe and first born son Kinichi
© California State University, Northridge 2008
For more information about this project, please contact:
Edith Chen, Professor Asian American Studies Dept.
18111 Nordhoff St., JR 340
Northridge, CA 91330-8251
edith.chen@csun.edu
818-677-4966
Nancy Takayama
San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center
nt.high.mtn@juno.com

Community Life (Memorial at Buddhist Temple 1964)
When the Japanese first migrated to the mainland, many were encouraged to “westernize” by becoming Christians, however others strived to keep their own religion by the establishment of Buddhist temples and such.
“I asked my parents, "You guys are Buddhist. Why did you send us to a Christian church? Being out in Valley, there was no Buddhist church out there. They said they figured any church is better than no church."
~ Bill Watanabe.
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Memorial at Buddhist Temple 1964
Photo contributed by: Bill Watanabe
Names of people: Unknown
Date: 1964
Place: Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A.
Photograph by: Unknown
Photo size: Unknown
Description: Furiyama family memorial service 1964.
© California State University, Northridge 2008
For more information about this project, please contact:
Edith Chen, Professor Asian American Studies Dept.
18111 Nordhoff St., JR 340
Northridge, CA 91330-8251
edith.chen@csun.edu
818-677-4966
Nancy Takayama
San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center
nt.high.mtn@juno.com

Leisure Time (Beach Outing 1950)
"The only time we ever got to go to the movies was on a holiday, the major holidays. And my mother didn't believe in playing cards. So we never had a deck of cards at home at all."
~ Bo T. Sakaguchi
"You went to a theatre you had to go sit upstairs…that happened quite often."
~ Ritsuo Takeuchi
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Beach Outing 1950
Photo contributed by:Bill Watanabe
Names of people: Kinjaro, Kasuye, Kinichi, Yukiyoshi, and Yukimichi Watanabe with Mrs. Ikeda and Betty Ikeda.
Date: 1950
Place: Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A.
Photograph by: Unknown
Photo size: Unknown
Description: A beach outing with the Watanabe and Ikeda family in 1950.
© California State University, Northridge 2008
For more information about this project, please contact:
Edith Chen, Professor Asian American Studies Dept.
18111 Nordhoff St., JR 340
Northridge, CA 91330-8251
edith.chen@csun.edu
818-677-4966
Nancy Takayama
San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center
nt.high.mtn@juno.com

Leisure Time (Playing football)
“Growing up in the valley back then, you had activities that weren’t planned. You could play sports in the backyard and the neighbors would come over. And we’d play baseball or throw a football around. We would have a lot of church group activities. We would go to the beach.”
~ Bill Watanabe
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Playing football
Image Contributed by: Nancy Takayama
Names of people: Toshio Takayama
Date:
Place: North Hollywood, CA
Photograph by:
Original Photo size:
Description:
© California State University, Northridge 2008
For more information about this project, please contact:
Edith Chen, Professor Asian American Studies Dept.
18111 Nordhoff St., JR 340
Northridge, CA 91330-8251
edith.chen@csun.edu
818-677-4966
Nancy Takayama
San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center
nt.high.mtn@juno.com

Where's Daddy? (3 brothers standing in front of house)
He [our father] got up 2 in the afternoon, and around 3 o’clock he left the house and went around the farm to pick up vegetables and loaded it into his car. He went to the market in LA where he distributed to the whole market. By midnight, he went to sleep. Because he slept most of the day, we barely saw our father.
~ Harold Muraoka
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3 brothers standing in front of house
Image Contributed by: Nancy Takayama
Names of people: Masa Nakamura and brothers
Date:
Place:
Photograph by:
Original Photo size:
Description:
© California State University, Northridge 2008
For more information about this project, please contact:
Edith Chen, Professor Asian American Studies Dept.
18111 Nordhoff St., JR 340
Northridge, CA 91330-8251
edith.chen@csun.edu
818-677-4966
Nancy Takayama
San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center
nt.high.mtn@juno.com

Health Care (Mother and daughters with their car)
My Parents told us never to go to the County hospital, because the Japanese get no help there. For example, there was a terrible flood and a White woman got covered with mud. The nurses ignored her because they thought she was Black or Mexican. After they washed the woman’s dirt, [realizing she was White] they helped the woman immediately.
~Mary Oda
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Mother and daughters with their car
Image Contributed by: Nancy Takayama
Names of people: Masayo Takayama, Yuriko Takayama, and friend
Date:
Place:
Photograph by:
Original Photo size:
Description:
© California State University, Northridge 2008
For more information about this project, please contact:
Edith Chen, Professor Asian American Studies Dept.
18111 Nordhoff St., JR 340
Northridge, CA 91330-8251
edith.chen@csun.edu
818-677-4966
Nancy Takayama
San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center
nt.high.mtn@juno.com

Japanese Bathtub (Farm house)
After a long days work on the farm, many Japanese Americans enjoyed relaxing in their traditional style "furo," bathtub. The bathtubs were usually located behind the house and used firewood to keep it warm.
"My chore was to drain the tub outside the bathtub, clean it, fill it with water and come back around 5 o’clock and I start gathering the water and burn the wood so we can make the water hot. And we jumped in the water at the end of the day and took a bath. And that was the best part of the day for us."
-James Higashida
"...We all had a separate structure. And you always have a deep tub and then you have a fire underneath... yeah, I mean the tub is metal and then the building is a separate building and then you put the fire underneath and you don’t wash yourself in the tub you just sit there to soak and then I used to soak in the tub with my mother and she would rub my back... one day... we had a Japanese who worked for us and he lived in a separate house. But I jumped in the bath before he did and my father, for the first time, he hit me on my bottom. He said, 'You should never have taken a bath before the guest.'"
~ Mary Oda
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Farm house
Image Contributed by: Nancy Takayama
Names of people:
Date:
Place:
Photograph by:
Original Photo size:
Description:
© California State University, Northridge 2008
For more information about this project, please contact:
Edith Chen, Professor Asian American Studies Dept.
18111 Nordhoff St., JR 340
Northridge, CA 91330-8251
edith.chen@csun.edu
818-677-4966
Nancy Takayama
San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center
nt.high.mtn@juno.com

(Two ladies in Kimonos)
"...My father always felt that this was the land of opportunity and the night we went to camp, he said to me, we're going to camp tomorrow, I'm not sorry I came to America."
~ Mary Oda
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Image Contributed by: Nancy Takayama
Names of people: Miyoko Nishimoto and Masayo Takayama
Date: circa 1939
Place: San Fernando Valley, CA, U.S.A.
Photograph by:
Original Photo size:
Description:
© California State University, Northridge 2008
For more information about this project, please contact:
Edith Chen, Professor Asian American Studies Dept.
18111 Nordhoff St., JR 340
Northridge, CA 91330-8251
edith.chen@csun.edu
818-677-4966
Nancy Takayama
San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center
nt.high.mtn@juno.com

Picnics in the Valley (Picnic #3)
“Going to the beach or having a picnic, everyone wore a suit and tie. When you went out in public, you wanted to look better.”
~ Bill Watanabe
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Picnic #3
Image Contributed by: Nancy Takayama
Names of people: Yuriko and Toshio Takayama and family friends
Date:
Place: North Hollywood/Burbank Farmers Association Picnic
Photograph by:
Original Photo size:
Description:
© California State University, Northridge 2008
For more information about this project, please contact:
Edith Chen, Professor Asian American Studies Dept.
18111 Nordhoff St., JR 340
Northridge, CA 91330-8251
edith.chen@csun.edu
818-677-4966
Nancy Takayama
San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center
nt.high.mtn@juno.com

Japanese Language Schools (pic 6)
"We had Japanese school in San Fernando. It was only one day a week though, on Saturdays only and I think we had regular class from maybe 9-3, or 8-4."
~Ritsuo Takeuchi
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pic 6
Image Contributed by: Dr. Bo Sakaguchi
Names of people:
Date: Circa 1935
Place: Japanese Language School, North Hollywood, CA
Photograph by:
Original Photo size:
Description: After a Japanese speaking contest. (Bo Sakaguchi- First Place)These students were all children of farmers. Children usually go to Japanese Language Schools on Saturdays from 9am to 3pm
© California State University, Northridge 2008
For more information about this project, please contact:
Edith Chen, Professor Asian American Studies Dept.
18111 Nordhoff St., JR 340
Northridge, CA 91330-8251
edith.chen@csun.edu
818-677-4966
Nancy Takayama
San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center
nt.high.mtn@juno.com

Japanese Language Schools (pic 5)
Often feeling marginalized in “American” schools, many Japanese American children also joined Japanese Language Schools to socialize with other Japanese American children and learn Japanese language and traditions.
"(We went to) the Japanese Language because it was everyday after American school... and I really have to thank them because they gave us a social life, a community life, because we knew were not accepted by Caucasians."
~Mary Oda
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pic 5
Image Contributed by: Nancy Takayama
Names of people:
Date:
Place:
Photograph by:
Original Photo size:
Description:
© California State University, Northridge 2008
For more information about this project, please contact:
Edith Chen, Professor Asian American Studies Dept.
18111 Nordhoff St., JR 340
Northridge, CA 91330-8251
edith.chen@csun.edu
818-677-4966
Nancy Takayama
San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center
nt.high.mtn@juno.com

School in the San Fernando Valley (School children 2)
Anti-Japanese sentiment also affected the education of the Nisei and Sansei children. Some schools, specifically in northern California had segregated “Oriental Schools.” Japanese American children in the San Fernando Valley were not segregated but were usually only one or two in a classroom.
“One of the Japanese Americans was student body president. We were the only 3 non-whites. There were no blacks, no Hispanics… Northridge back then was mostly Jewish.”
~ Bill Watanabe
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School children 2
Image Contributed by: Nancy Takayama
Names of people:
Date:
Place:
Photograph by:
Original Photo size:
Description:
© California State University, Northridge 2008
For more information about this project, please contact:
Edith Chen, Professor Asian American Studies Dept.
18111 Nordhoff St., JR 340
Northridge, CA 91330-8251
edith.chen@csun.edu
818-677-4966
Nancy Takayama
San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center
nt.high.mtn@juno.com

Life on the Farm (Farmer and horse plow, circa )
Many farms were family run operations, often leasing land from European Americans. Other Japanese Americans were able to purchase land using their children's names, who were U.S. citizens. It was quite common for husband, wife, and children to all work in the fields. Some Japanese American families would also hire outside workers such as Filipinos, Mexicans, or Chinese.
"We had some Filipino boys working...(one) was working for us before we had to leave (during the war)... he kept things going for the guy who took over (the farm)."
~ Tom Imai
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Farmer and horse plow, circa
Image Contributed by: Nancy Takayama
Names of people:
Date:
Place:
Photograph by:
Original Photo size:
Description:
© California State University, Northridge 2008
For more information about this project, please contact:
Edith Chen, Professor Asian American Studies Dept.
18111 Nordhoff St., JR 340
Northridge, CA 91330-8251
edith.chen@csun.edu
818-677-4966
Nancy Takayama
San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center
nt.high.mtn@juno.com

Acknowledgements ("Two Freds" circa 1950's)
Principal Investigator: Edith Chen
Community Director: Nancy Takayama
Research Team-Cal State University Asian American Studies Students:
Cecile Asuncion
Teddy Avila
Tiffany Cheng
Jean-Paul deGuzman
Eve Green
Lindy Fujimoto
Patricia Gopez
Yen Hoang
Amy Ikeda
Ryan Ito
Lori Monji
Joseph Kim
Scott Mitsunaga
Caroline Moya
Dinah Nghiem
Peter Ngotngamwong
Stephanie Ngueyn
Faith Ramirez
Michael Razon
Machiko Uyeno
Everett Wong
Tiffanie Young
Library advisors:
Robert Marshall, Special Collections Archivist
Mary Woodley, Collection Development Coordinator
Kris Tacsik, Map Curator, Map Library
Susanna Eng, Asian American Studies Librarian
Curriculum Consultant:
Joyce Burnstein
Media Assistance:
Patricia Miller, Barbara Ann Ward Language Lab
Nikkei Album consultants:
Vicky K. Murakami-Tsuda, Japanese American National Museum
Bobby Okinaka, Japanese American National Museum
CSUN Web Development advisors:
Lynn Lampert
David Moon
Elizabeth Altman
Video assistance: Tony Hillbruner
Academic Consultants:
Jorge Garcia
Gordon Nakagawa
George Uba
Laura Uba
Community Advisors:
Nancy Takayama
Hal Suetsugu
Administrative Assistance:
Janaki Bowerman
Reyna Kennedy
Eve Green
Cecilia Lu
Molly Ngueyn
Deborah Arroyo
Janet Wong
Norine Galvin
CSUN Public Relations:
Brenda Roberts
Carmen Chandler
Past Funding:
The John Randolph and Dora Haynes Foundation
Special Acknowledgements to:
Lane Hirabayashi, Chair, George and Sakaye Aratani Professorship in Japanese American Redress, Internment and Community, UCLA
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"Two Freds" circa 1950's
Photograph contributed by Bill Watanabe.
Names of people: Fred Sakurai, Fred Ishihara
Date: Circa 1950's
Place: Sun Valley, CA, U.S.A.
Photograph by: Unknown
Photo size: Unknown
Description: Fred Sakurai and Fred Ishihara enjoying the day after attending Japanese school in Sun Valley, California circa 1950's.© California State University, Northridge 2008
For more information about this project, please contact: Edith Chen, Professor Asian American Studies Dept. 18111 Nordhoff St., JR 340 Northridge, CA 91330-8251, edith.chen@csun.edu, 818-677-4966
Nancy Takayama, San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center, nt.high.mtn@juno.com

Japanese Celebrations (Making Mochi: A New Year's Tradition circa 1955 )
Although Japanese Americans wanted to be accepted in America, many felt strongly to hold to their Japanese cultural traditions, such as the Obon Festival, Boys Day, Girls Day, and New Year celebrations. New Year's day was especially looked forward to, as it was one of the few days they did not work.
“We used to make mochi every year in the traditional way. We’d stoke a fire, boil water, put the rice on top of the steaming water and cook the rice. My family would all get together on New Years’ Day or New Years’ Eve and make mochi...The first time me and my cousins did it, we singed our eyebrows and eyelashes. ”
~Bill Watanabe
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Making Mochi: A New Year's Tradition circa 1955
Photograph contributed by Bill Watanabe. Names of people: Katsuye Watanabe and unknown friends
Date: Circa 1955
Place: Granada Hills, CA, U.S.A.
Photograph by: Unknown
Photo size: Unknown
Description:
Katsuye Watanabe with family and friends traditionally prepare Mochi for the New Year's celebration circa 1955. © California State University, Northridge 2008
For more information about this project, please contact:
Edith Chen, Professor Asian American Studies Dept.
18111 Nordhoff St., JR 340
Northridge, CA 91330-8251
edith.chen@csun.edu
818-677-4966
Nancy Takayama
San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center
nt.high.mtn@juno.com

Tule Lake (Tule Lake Internment Camp 1945)
Amongst the internment camps across the county, Tule Lake was home to the those who were detained from other camps because they were thought to be potential enemies of America. Even many mothers and children were not exempt from this high security camp.
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Tule Lake Internment Camp 1945
Photograph contributed by Bill Watanabe. Names of people: Unknown
Date: 1945
Place: Tule Lake, CA, U.S.A.
Photograph by: Unknown
Photo size: Unknown
Description: A picture of mother's and their newborn children while at Tule Lake, California internment camp during World War II in 1945.
© California State University, Northridge 2008
For more information about this project, please contact:
Edith Chen, Professor Asian American Studies Dept.
18111 Nordhoff St., JR 340
Northridge, CA 91330-8251
edith.chen@csun.edu
818-677-4966
Nancy Takayama
San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center
nt.high.mtn@juno.com

Family Outings (Watanabe/Furuyama Family Picnic 1939)
For Japanese Americans, family outings were rare due to the fact that farm labor consumed most of their time. However, when the opportunity did arise, they were very much cherished, and the families often dressed in their best outfits.
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Watanabe/Furuyama Family Picnic 1939
Photograph contributed by Bill Watanabe. Names of people: Unknown
Date: 1939
Place: Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A.
Photograph by: Unknown
Photo size: Unknown
Description: A picnic at one of California's sunny beaches, with the Watanabe and Furuyama families, after a long week harvesting flowers in the San Fernando Valley, California in 1939.
© California State University, Northridge 2008
For more information about this project, please contact:
Edith Chen, Professor Asian American Studies Dept.
18111 Nordhoff St., JR 340
Northridge, CA 91330-8251
edith.chen@csun.edu
818-677-4966
Nancy Takayama
San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center
nt.high.mtn@juno.com

Finding a home (Tamaru "Tom" Fujimoto with wife and first son, circa 1945)
Japanese Americans were restricted from where they could live even after the war. It was quite common for real estate agents to show Japanese American homes in minority designated areas.
“It was just known of the places you were allowed to go, and the places that you weren’t allowed, this was normal for the Japanese…”.
~Tamaru "Tom" Fujimoto
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Tamaru "Tom" Fujimoto with wife and first son, circa 1945
Photo contributed by: Tamaru “Tom” Fujimoto
Names of people: Tamaru “Tom” Fujimoto, Nobi Fujimoto and Richard Fujimoto
Date: circa 1945
Place: South Central, CA, U.S.A.
Photograph by: Sachi Yamamoto
Photo size: 3.5” x 5” inches / 8.9 x 12.7 cm
Description: Pictured here is Tamaru “Tom” Fujimoto (1921-present), his wife, Nobi Fujimoto and their first son, Richard Fujimoto. Tamaru Fujimoto was born in Santa Paula, California. Tamaru Fujimoto married Nobi Fujimoto (1924-present) and had three sons, Richard Fujimoto (1944-present), Gary Fujimoto (1948-present) and Stephen Fujimoto (1949-present), and two daughters, Eileen Fujimoto (1960-present) and Julie Fujimoto (1965-present). Right after they were released from camp they had nothing so they had to move in with Nobi’s eldest sister, Sachi Yamamoto in South Central. Getting back on their feet was terribly hard after the camps with a lot of anti-Japanese sentiment. Tamaru Fujimoto avoided white people and neighborhoods when finding a home for his family, and finally found their current home in San Fernando Valley in a designated minority area. Tamaru remembers, “It was just known of the places you were allowed to go, and the places that you weren’t allowed, this was normal for the Japanese…you would never go to an expensive restaurant, it was just known”.
© California State University, Northridge 2008
For more information about this project, please contact:
Edith Chen, Professor Asian American Studies Dept.
18111 Nordhoff St., JR 340
Northridge, CA 91330-8251
edith.chen@csun.edu
818-677-4966
Nancy Takayama
San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center
nt.high.mtn@juno.com

Tough Times (Kiju Fujimoto and daughter by car, circa 1930)
It was real good getting a car during the depression, some guys weren’t eating too much and couldn’t find work”.
~Tamaru “Tom” Fujimoto
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Kiju Fujimoto and daughter by car, circa 1930
Photo contributed by: Tamaru “Tom” Fujimoto
Names of people: Fujiko Fujimoto and Kiju Fujimoto
Date: circa 1930
Place: Ventura, CA, U.S.A.
Photograph by: Toshiko Fujimoto
Photo size: 3.5” x 5” inches / 8.9 x 12.7 cm
Description: Pictured in this photo is Kiju Fujimoto (1889-1984) with her second eldest daughter, Fujiko Fujimoto (1919-present), and their bosses German Shepard, Topa Topa. Kiju Fujimoto came to the United States as a picture bride from Kumamoto, Japan. She came to the United States and married Hichizo Fujimoto (1877-1958) and had two daughters, Toshiko Fujimoto (1917-2005) and Fujiko Fujimoto (1919-present), and two sons, Tamotsu Fujimoto (1920-passed away at 4 months), and Tamaru “Tom” Fujimoto (1921-present). When they settled in America, they worked as farmers in Ventura, Oxnard and Roscoe. Tamaru “Tom” Fujimoto had said it was, “real good getting a car during the depression, some guys weren’t eating too much and couldn’t find work”.
© California State University, Northridge 2008
For more information about this project, please contact:
Edith Chen, Professor Asian American Studies Dept.
18111 Nordhoff St., JR 340
Northridge, CA 91330-8251
edith.chen@csun.edu
818-677-4966
Nancy Takayama San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center nt.high.mtn@juno.com
“Telling Our Stories: Japanese Americans in the San Fernando Valley, 1910’s - 1970’s” unveils the forgotten past of Japanese Americans living in the San Fernando Valley. The history of the Japanese Americans in the San Fernando Valley is not well documented, despite their significant contributions. Approximately, 3,200 Japanese Americans lived in the San Fernando Valley, prior to their internment. Most were farming families who struggled to make a living in an era of intense racism. The Alien Land Act of 1913 along with local laws were just some of the attempts to limit where Japanese American farmers could farm, and maintain San Fernando Valley's predominately White population. Japanese American farmers were a major part of the California agricultural economy, growing various fruits, vegetables, as well as flowers. They were largely responsible for turning California’s “wasteland,” into the agricultural Mecca that it is known for today. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, many were falsely suspected as being the enemy. Forced to evacuate, Japanese Americans experienced severe loss including land, property, and personal belongings. Family photos and documents were often buried, burned, or lost. After internment, many returned to their farms only to discover that their farms had been taken away or their property destroyed. Some continued to farm while others took on new professions such as gardening. Silence was a popular coping mechanism for moving on with their lives. This CSUN Asian American Studies service-learning project, working in partnership with the San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center uncovers this buried past through the collection of oral histories and rare family photographs. These stories add another chapter to California’s rich history.
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