Stuff contributed by IkuoShinmasu

Yoemon Shinmasu – My Grandfather’s Life in Seattle

Part 10 – Unfortunate death and sorrowful return home

Ikuo Shinmasu

In Part 9, I wrote about the Japanese Association that provided support for Yoemon and the days leading up to the opening of his hotel. In this part, I will write about how Yoemon came to his unfortunate end.

Yoemon Shinmasu – My Grandfather’s Life in Seattle

Part 9 – The Japanese Association and Yoemon’s final days

Ikuo Shinmasu

In Part 8, I wrote about the immigrants from Yamaguchi Prefecture, the process of sending money back to Japan, and the construction of Yoemon’s new house in Kamai. This time, I will write about the Japanese association (Nihonjinkai) that supported Yoemon in Seattle and the final days of his life.

Yoemon Shinmasu – My Grandfather’s Life in Seattle

Part 8 – Sending money home and a new house

Ikuo Shinmasu

In Part 7, I wrote about Yoemon Shinmasu’s venture into the hotel business. This time, I will write about Yoemon’s birthplace, Yamaguchi Prefecture, him sending money back home, and the construction of his new house in Kamai.

Yoemon Shinmasu – My Grandfather’s Life in Seattle

Part 7 - Leap to the hotel business

Ikuo Shinmasu

In Part 6, I wrote about how Yoemon educated his eldest son, Atae, in Seattle. This part will focus on how Yoemon’s barbershop business led him to make a big leap forward in starting a hotel business.

Yoemon Shinmasu – My Grandfather’s Life in Seattle

Part 6 – Atae’s education

Ikuo Shinmasu

In Part 5, I wrote about the pinnacle of Yoemon’s barbershop business in Walla Walla. This time I will focus on Yoemon’s other challenge: Atae’s education.

Yoemon Shinmasu – My Grandfather’s Life in Seattle

Part 5 – Barbershop business in its heyday

Ikuo Shinmasu

In Part 4, I shared how Yoemon’s Seattle-born children were left with Yoemon’s parents in Kamai and how Atae was brought back to Seattle where his parents were working. In this part, I will write about the pinnacle of Yoemon’s barbershop business.

Yoemon Shinmasu – My Grandfather’s Life in Seattle

Part 4 – Sending children to Japan

Ikuo Shinmasu

Part 3 introduced Yoemon’s family in Seattle after his marriage and his barbershop business with his wife. In part 4, I will write about the life of Yoemon’s children in Kamai. They were brought back to Japan for the sake of his business and Atae’s return to America.

Yoemon Shinmasu – My Grandfather’s Life in Seattle

Part 3 – Marriage and family

Ikuo Shinmasu

Continuing with Part 2 in which I wrote about Yoemon’s single life in Seattle, this part shares Yoemon’s marriage, children born in Seattle, and his barbershop business following the marriage.

Yoemon Shinmasu – My Grandfather’s Life in Seattle

Part 2 – Yoemon’s first job and life in Seattle

Ikuo Shinmasu

Part one introduced Yoemon’s hometown, Kamai, and how he sailed across the ocean via Hawaii, pretending to be a sailor, and landed in Seattle in 1906. Part two shares a detailed story about how he started his barbershop business three years after his arrival in Seattle.

Yoemon Shinmasu – My Grandfather’s Life in Seattle

Part 1 – From Kamai to Seattle

Ikuo Shinmasu

Kamai Village in Yamaguchi Prefecture

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About

Ikuo Shinmasu was born in Kamai in Kaminosekicho, Kumage-gun in Yamaguchi Prefecture in 1950. After working at Teikoku Sanso Ltd. (currently AIR LIQUIDE Japan Ltd.), a foreign-affiliated company in Kobe, he retired and started his “second” college life at Nihon University as a history major. He lives in the city of Zushi in Kanagawa Prefecture with his wife and eldest son. He likes cooking and karaoke.

Nikkei interests

  • community history
  • family stories

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