Remembering the Issei MESSAGE from the EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER WINTER 2019 | VOLUME 62 Remembering the Issei MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Remembering the Issei 一世の思い出 ack in 1998, worked as Vice President. Under the I was giving sponsorship of the bank and Mr. Oka's Ba speech at direction, the History Room started to BOARD OFFICERS a conference in amass an extensive collection of primary Robert Sakai | President Los Angeles Little source material on the Issei generation. Myron Okada | Vice President Tokyo, and I was Donna Ong-Kimura | Vice President In 1986, when the Center first opened talking about the Kelly Yuka Walton | Corporate Secretary its doors, California 1st Bank donated tremendous impact Kyle Tatsumoto | Chief Financial Officer the entire collection of the History the passing of the Room to the community center. Mr. Executive Director Nisei generation Oka renamed the History Room, the BOARD OF DIRECTORS PAUL OSAKI would have on Japanese American History Archives Terry Akiyama the Japanese (JAHA) and continued to act as the Sherilyn Chew American community in terms of Executive Director and curator of the David Fukuda philanthropy, volunteerism and most archives. Under his leadership, the Judy Hamaguchi of all history. After my speech, a Nisei collection continued to grow in both Chris Hirano man approached me and said that I material and prestige. The archives Stephen Katayama was wrong, that the generation, which became recognized as a comprehensive Ryan Kimura would have the most significant impact research facility for scholars, students, Susan Kobayashi on the community when they are gone, businesses, government agencies and Hillary Nakano is the Sansei generation. His statement universities both in the United States and Rumi Okabe stunned me. I didn't agree with him at Japan. JAHA's primary source material Allen Okamoto all. In fact, I think I nervously laughed. on the Issei became a resource for other Scott Okamoto Let's be honest, the Sansei, really? He higher education institutions, including Marilyn Oshiro said the reason was that the Sansei U.C. Berkeley, UCLA and Stanford Courtney Peck Peagler would be the last generation to have University. Over the years the archival Teresa Serata known the Issei generation. He proudly collection became a resource for books, Jon Shindo stated that the Nisei were not the research material, educational textbooks, Peter Weber "Greatest Generation," it was the Issei. documentaries and even feature films. They were the true pioneers of the STAFF Japanese American community. The Oka Collection includes over Paul Osaki | Executive Director 10,000 historical items, including Perhaps no other person dedicated Lori Matoba | Deputy Director personal diaries, newspapers, journals, himself more to ensuring that the Issei Marjorie Fletcher | Executive Assistant manuscripts, memoirs, one-of-a- generation would not be forgotten than Mika Shimizu | Office Manager/ kind books, photographs and original Seizo Oka or Mr. Oka, as he was known Receptionist paintings. Many of the documents as in the community. Mr. Seizo Oka was Stephanie Doi | Development Manager illuminate similar experiences of political the founder, historian and curator of Matt Okada | Director of Programs fear, anti-immigration, suspicion, the Japanese American History Archives Jennifer Hamamoto | Programs and mistrust, hostility, civil rights and racist (JAHA). He began collecting historical Facilities Manager laws faced by immigrant and new documents on the Issei generation as Haruka Roudebush | Programs Manager communities today. far back as 1952, a year after the signing Jerry Kika | Volunteer Coordinator of the Peace Treaty between the United In 2004, Seizo Oka passed away and States and Japan following World War Japantown lost its most knowledgeable II. This was not an easy task given that and recognized community historian. MISSION ミッション most Issei had thrown away much of He spent half a century chronicling, The Center is a non-profit organization which strives to meet the evolving needs their possessions, personal documents archiving, preserving and sharing his of the Japanese American community by and archives following the bombing of knowledge about the Japanese American offering programs, affordable services and Pearl Harbor. Academics and universities community and the Issei generation. administrative support and facilities for other local organizations. The Center also would not start collecting these historical JAHA is his legacy and the collection of provides educational, cultural and recreational documents for at least another decade. historical archives a lasting treasure for programs that meet and address the interests Originally formed in 1977, as the Japanese our community. and concerns of the community. Our goals remain rooted in preserving the Japanese American History Room (History Room), American cultural and historical heritage as it was a project of California 1st Bank, Paul Osaki well as fostering the foundation for future formerly Bank of Tokyo, where Mr. Oka Executive Director generations of Japanese Americans. 2 Winter 2019 REMEMBERING THE ISSEI 一世の思い出 Japanese American History Archives Renamed the Seizo Oka Collection On November 7, a small gathering and families started to donate their own of individuals including Deputy materials as they knew that Oka’s archive Consul General of Japan Kazuhiro would serve as a safe and credible repository that valued and honored the Iryu and family members of the documents they entrusted. Also, because late Seizo Oka gathered in the of Mr. Oka’s fluent bi-lingual ability to learn about the first hand voices of exhibit hall on the first floor read even the most difficult Japanese Issei, their challenges, struggles and of the Center to celebrate the documents, he was often asked to help transition of living in the US. Currently, renaming of the Japanese American retrieve family registry information for Mr. Oka’s translation is being edited by Historical Archives to the Seizo Oka Japanese Americans who had relatives in the Japanese Diaspora Collection of the Japan and wanted to know more about Collection. Hoover Institution Library and Archives their own family heritage. at Stanford University. eizo Oka was a Bank of Tokyo Mr. Oka’s contributions did not stop The newly re-named Seizo Oka employee working in the bank’s with preservation and collections. He Collection is currently closed and will San Francisco Office. In 1997 also translated a multi volume book be undergoing an assessment and the bank asked him to create into English so that the English reading preservation evaluation. The Center is San archive of materials consisting of only community could learn about committed to honoring the care and substantial and important primary the everyday life of the Issei prior to pride Mr. Oka took to create such an documents. As word spread of Mr. Oka’s World War II. The book, Zaibei Nihonjin invaluable piece of Japanese American talent to categorize subjects into clear Shi (History of Japanese in America) Issei history and we all will be forever and concise files and topics, individuals allowed English readers the ability to grateful. Winter 2019 3 REMEMBERING THE ISSEI 一世の思い出 Issei Immigration to the U.S. Sharon’s paternal grandparents, Courtesy of Susan Kobeyashi Bunichi and Hanako Tondo, were cooks for families in San Francisco. based on their native prefecture. These associations, commonly called Kenjinkai, Courtesy of Sharon Kato Sharon of Courtesy held annual picnics so that the Issei Diane Matsuda states, “My could reminisce about their life in Japan maternal grandfather, Yutaka and to speak freely in their regional Yoshifuji (above) moved to the dialect. Some Kenjinkai also provided U.S. from Hiroshima at age opportunities for employment, housing, 16. Before WWII he harvested loans and the arrangement of marriages. fava beans and other crops in Pescadero and then became a Today, very few Kenjinkai remain active in gardener in San Mateo until the U.S. as the affinity to one’s homeland he retired at age 80. Since my does not hold as strong of a connection mother was the youngest of nine as it once did, with the Nissei and Sansei children, Ojichan and Obachan generations. spent their final years living with us. This photo shows us enjoying Here is a chart from the Japanese a nice day in the sun. I was very Overseas Migration Museum in fortunate that Ojichan took me Yokohama that includes the number of for many walks. Maybe that is Japanese citizens who left Japan from why I always prefer to walk over 1885-1912. This chart only includes the riding in a car.” Courtesy of Diane Matsuda largest emigration of individuals from the Prefectures listed below. When the Japanese government here were many reasons for Hiroshima 109,893 allowed its citizens to leave the leaving Japan including the Okinawa 89,424 country to explore other parts of the economic incentive to follow the “American Dream” — to Kumamoto 76,802 world during the Meiji Era Tmake enough money in the US and Yamaguchi 57,837 (1868-1912), there were several then return back to one’s homeland to Fukuoka 57,684 prefectures in Japan that took a live comfortably. However, for many Wakayama 32,852 very active role in promoting its Issei, they were never able or were no residents to go abroad. longer interested in returning back to The memories of the Issei generation lives Japan. Many Issei joined associations on today in their Nisei, Sansei, Yonsei and 4 Winter 2019 REMEMBERING THE ISSEI 一世の思い出 over at her and whisper, “I have no idea Lori Matoba’s Issei Memory: Yuka Matoba what they’re saying!” Great grandma (1904-2011), left her home in Fukuoka and arrived was my best friend until she died when I on one of the last ships from Japan in 1924, at the was eight. We would often play checkers age of 19 after marrying my grandfather Katsuzo. and she would let me cheat." (center left What I remember most about my Bachan is the strong grip she had when she would hold my photo of Susan's great-grandparents ) hand to say hello or goodbye.