BIJAC P.O. Box 10449 Bainbridge Island, WA 98110 www.bijac.org SUMMER 2017 Return Service Requested Community Gathers to Commemorate 75th Anniversary of the Exclusion Photo courtesy of Paul Dunn “The chilly and crisp morning air did not dampen the Several survivors from the various war time concentration warm spirits of more than 250 people gathered on camps were in attendance, as well as a roster of notable speak- March 30, 2017 to witness the 75th Anniversary Com- ers, including Governor Jay Inslee, Japanese Ambassador to Mark your calendar: memoration Ceremony at the Bainbridge Island Japa- the United States Kenichiro Sasae, Bainbridge Island Mayor nese American Exclusion Memorial.” Val Tollefson, and leaders of local cultural and religious SUMMER PICNIC 2017 So begins the narrative by BIJAC president Clarence groups. BIJAC and BIJAEMA were greeted with an outpour- Moriwaki, describing the culmination of months of ing of logistical support from COBI, BIHM, BIMA, BI Parks planning and years of reflection on Executive Order and Recreation, Eagle Harbor Congregational Church, and Saturday, August 5th 9066, the order enacted by President Franklin Roosevelt others, making the Commemoration a true community event. that would send 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry to 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. incarceration camps during World War II. The first to go were the 275 residents of Bainbridge Island of Japanese heritage. Battle Point Park Picnic Shelter Photo courtesy of Paul Dunn Picnic 2003 – Relaxing and catching up with old friends. In the days and weeks leading up to February 19th, the day EO 9066 was signed, numerous Washington organi- zations ranging from the State Capitol, universities, and 2017 BIJAC Annual Membership Dues $20/household. Thank you for your support! museums to religious and cultural groups held events in Via M ail: BIJAC, P.O. Box 10449, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110 remembrance of the impact EO 9066 had on the Japa- Via PayPal: Visit www.bijac.org, click on “Become a member or make a tax deductible gift” on the top right nese American community. As reflected in the TV crews present at the Exclusion Memorial on March 30th, Name_________________________________________________________ the media took notice. Earlier in the year, Bainbridge Address_______________________________________________________ Cinemas hosted George Takei’s Allegiance: The Broad- way Musical on the Big Screen to benefit BIJAC. In the Photo courtesy of Paul Dunn City____________________________ State_______ ZIP Code___________ week leading up to the 75th Anniversary, Lori Matsuka- wa of KING 5 News broadcast a 4-part series, Prisoners Survivors and community members listen intently. Back row Phone: (____)____________________ (l-r): Junji Yukawa, Yasuko Mito, Frances Ikegami, Lilly Koda- in Their Own Land: Remembering the Internment of ma, Matsue Watanabe, Doug Crist. Front row (l -r); Hisa Matsu- Enclosed: $______________________(checks payable to BIJAC) Japanese Americans 75 Years Later, featuring Bain- daira, Toshi Sunohara, Victor Takemoto, Sinichi Tonooka, Eiko Shibayama, Trudy Hayashida, Mary Woodward, Kay Sakai Email:________________________________________________ bridge Island’s own Kay Nakao and Lilly Kodama. Nakao, Mayor Val Tollefson. Please send my BIJAC newsletter via: Email U.S. Postal Service Both Email and U.S. Postal Service >> CONT. PAGE SIX Page 2 Page 3 From Issei to Today: The Takemoto Family Story By: Bill Takemoto Photos courtesy of Takemoto Family My father Saichi Takemoto was born in 65th Anniversary of BIJAC 1885 on Oshima Island in Yamaguchi Prefecture. The island is about the size of By: Joyce Nishimura Bainbridge and is the same island from which other Bainbridge Island families, th such as the Omotos and Nakatas, emi- On our 65 Anniversary of the founding of BIJAC, we are initiating an effort to record the history of the events and accom- grated. plishments of our community using the extensive files of Frank Kitamoto, our collective memories, and the vast library of As a young man, Saichi and his two older information available on our website (www.bijac.org). Take a trip down memory lane and let us know if we have overlooked brothers left Japan to seek work in Amer- anything. We welcome additions and corrections to our work-in-progress. ica. They initially pursued farm work in Hawaii. While the oldest brother stayed and put down roots in Hawaii, Saichi and Bainbridge Island Japanese Japanese Island Bainbridge the second oldest brother came to Seattle. 1987 10, March Founded At some point his older brother died in Community American Seattle. After working various jobs, such as a dishwasher, houseboy and movie theater employee, Saichi acquired land on Bainbridge to start a strawberry farm. Saichi Takemoto and Yone Koyama Takemoto passport photos upon Non Eventually he wanted to settle down and return to the U.S., March 12, 1921 take on a wife. Through a matchmaker - from his village in Japan, he met and Profit American residents were held, but decided 1948. During my tour of duty in Tokyo, I married Satsu Koyama, then brought her to stay at Manzanar along with a few other met Nobuko and we were married in 1963. back to Bainbridge Island. Bainbridge Island families. After about After I retired from the Air Force in 1968, I three years at Manzanar, we were finally Some time before 1920, Satsu died. relocated to my current home in Kent, permitted to travel outside the camp and Saichi consulted the same matchmaker to Washington. After retirement, I was hired eventually leave. In April 1945, my father Club Community find him another wife. The matchmaker by Boeing as an instructor in flight train- decided it was time to return to Bainbridge arranged for him to marry Satsu’s young- ing. I worked for 24 years and retired in Island because it was strawberry planting 1992. After our children finished high 25, 1952 April Founded er sister, Yone, who was only 18 years season. Our family was the first family to old. In 1921 they returned to Bainbridge school Nobuko worked for United Airlines Japanese Island Bainbridge return to Bainbridge Island. We found our Island to begin a life of farming. From and retired in 1998. Our son Paul graduat- home completely ransacked, windows bro- Bainbridge Island Issei ca. 1964 that union Victor was born in 1926, I was ed from the University of Washington and ken and anything of value gone. The fields born in 1928, Roy in 1930, Fred in 1932, is a homicide detective with the Seattle were overgrown. With the help of friends James in 1934, and Teruko, the only girl, Police Department. He and his girlfriend, and also people we did not know, we were in 1938. We lived on ten acres at the Kate, live in Seattle. Our daughter Susan provided with some essentials and help to Remember When? southwest corner of what is now High- graduated from Yale College and return the fields to farmable condition. My way 305 and NE Lovgreen Road. The Georgetown Law Center. After working brothers and I worked on weekends and in land was heavily forested, so we had to for twelve years as an attorney, she retired, Community Social Events the summer on the Moji farm run by Nick cut down many trees, which we did with- and she and her husband, Dave, are raising Sukiyaki Dinner—Commodore School out the help of modern equipment such as Bucsit for extra income. three children. Strawberry Shortcakes/Sundaes—Rotary Auctions & 4th of July chainsaws. We relied on dynamite to Saichi died on October 1972 at the age of Roy also enlisted in the U.S. Air Force blow up stumps, then used horses to pull Teriyaki Dinner (Mar 1990) —Commodore School 87. Yone died on January 2003 at the age after graduating from high school. He met up the roots. of 100. She was probably the last of the and wed Toshiko while stationed in Tokyo. Teriyaki Dinners (Mar 1997-Mar 2004)—Woodward MS original issei from the island to pass away. After Pearl Harbor was attacked on De- After more than 25 years of service, he Annual Matsuri (Sep 2002-Sep 2008)—Woodward MS cember 7, 1941 and President Roosevelt retired. Roy, along with his wife and two When Victor, the oldest sibling, returned Teriyaki Dinner, exhibits, flower arranging, sumi-e, judo issued Executive Order 9066, our family from Manzanar, he enrolled at the Univer- daughters, moved to Sun City, Arizona. was among the 227 other Bainbridge Is- sity of Washington. After he graduated in There Roy worked in civil service until he demonstrations, Kokon Taiko drummer, Odori dancing was diagnosed with cancer. He passed land families that were forcibly removed 1949 he worked in the medical service area Summer Picnic at Strawberry Hill Park (Aug 1990) from our homes and sent to Manzanar for 49 years and retired in 1998. Vic, his away in September, 1991 at the age of 61. internment camp located in California’s wife Lily. and three children, Vicki, Stan- Toshiko still lives in Sun City West. Summer Picnic at Battle Point Park (Jul 1997-present) Owens Valley at the foot of the Sierra ley and Jon. all live in the Seattle area. Kathy, their oldest daughter, lives in San Nevada. After about a year we had the Jose with her husband Richard and their Getting ready to serve at our Matsuri/Teriyaki Dinner choice of going to the Minidoka camp in After my graduation from high school I daughter. Patty, the other daughter, lives in SUMMER PICNIC 2017 March, 2003 enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in January of Riverside and has a son who has graduated Idaho where many Seattle area Japanese- SATURDAY, AUGUST 5th, BATTLE POINT PARK >> CONT. PAGE SEVEN >> CONT. PAGE FOUR Page 4 Page 5 65th Anniversary of BIJAC (continued from page 3) Pre-BIJAC 1890’s-1920’s Village of Yama, home to Japanese Blakely Mill workers Pre-BIJAC Or a l Hi s tory Proj e ct March 30, 1942 MEMORIAL BENEFIT EVENTS 2 00 6 -2 00 7 Ferry Kehloken carries Bainbridge Island Japanese 1995—Snow Falling on Cedars, by David Guterson, In 2006-2007, an ambitious effort was undertaken to from their home event at Commodore interview Bainbridge Island survivors of the WWII April 25, 1952 2006—Naomi’s Road, a Canadian Opera for the incarceration.