Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/1347/

Next phase

Then time about my age was 54. I get the first heart attack I had. So, that condition, I stayed 5 day in the hospital. Then I came out then, I was O.K. but the doctor recommended "don't push it so hard. You better be careful." So I started to slow down. Then next four, that time already Ken was graduate SC, then started coming helping part-time. Part time he was working some place else. Then he decided "I'm gonna come to help nursery 100%." So I'm glad to hear that, that he would do it.

Then, another four year or five year later, I was 60. My health was coming back to O.K., but nursery business getting bigger. Employee and part-time used to be only 60, 70, 80 people, now over 150.

So my English to control whole business, specially sales part, sales has to be a more bigger market to look for, so like those time, Home Depot, like big customer like, so they were always, it's not so easy with my English. So I've been having a hard time. So, Ken said, "I'm gonna try." O.K., let's try it. That was a start, then he do very well.

So I decided after 60, I prep, it was a small company but it was a corporation. So I give president job for Ken, then sit back, then I started more concentration to my real estate investment business here there.


business economics families generations immigrants immigration Issei Japan management migration postwar Shin-Issei United States World War II

Date: February 2, 2012

Location: California, US

Interviewer: Chris Komai, John Esaki

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

Interviewee Bio

Harunori Oda was born and raised in Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan, but moved to the U.S. after meeting and marrying a Nisei woman who was visiting Japan in the post WWII period. Though he hated the U.S., his wife, Mitsy, convinced him that he would have greater opportunities for success in the U.S., so he decided to take the chance. Though his English skills were limited, he worked his way up through the nursery business—an enterprise he determined would offer the most opportunity for a person with his abilities. Eventually, he started his own nursery, expanded, and later achieved great success as a developer of real estate in Orange County. He passed away on December 14, 2016, at age 91. (December 2016)

Adachi,Pat

Relationship with my father

(b. 1920) Incarcerated during World War II. Active member of the Japanese Canadian community

Wakabayashi,Kimi

Arranged marriage

(b.1912) Japanese Canadian Issei. Immigrated with husband to Canada in 1931

Ito,Mitsuo

Chose to go back to Japan

(b.1924) Japanese Canadian Nisei. Interpreter for British Army in Japan after WWII. Active in Japanese Canadian community

Kadoguchi,Shizuko

Marrying Bob against family’s wishes

(b.1920) Japanese Canadian Nisei. Established the Ikenobo Ikebana Society of Toronto

Kadoguchi,Shizuko

Choice to move east or go to Japan

(b.1920) Japanese Canadian Nisei. Established the Ikenobo Ikebana Society of Toronto

Naito,Sam

Starting an import business after World War II

(b. 1921) Nisei businessman. Established "Made in Oregon" retail stores

Tanaka,Seiichi

Coming to America

(b.1943) Shin-issei grand master of taiko; founded San Francisco Taiko Dojo in 1968.

Inoue,Enson

Growing up in a Japanese American family

(b. 1967) Hawai`i-born professional fighter in Japan

Inoue,Enson

The reason for coming to Japan

(b. 1967) Hawai`i-born professional fighter in Japan

Inoue,Enson

Tracing my family crest

(b. 1967) Hawai`i-born professional fighter in Japan

Inahara,Toshio

Family background

(b. 1921) Vascular surgeon

Inahara,Toshio

Driving 1930 Ford at age 12

(b. 1921) Vascular surgeon

Yuzawa,George Katsumi

Death of sister in October 1942

(1915 - 2011) Nisei florist who resettled in New York City after WW II. Active in Japanese American civil rights movement

Hashizume,Bill

Father’s success in farm business

(b. 1922) Canadian Nisei who was unable to return to Canada from Japan until 1952

Hashizume,Bill

Liaison between the Americans and the Japanese

(b. 1922) Canadian Nisei who was unable to return to Canada from Japan until 1952