Watsonville-Santa Cruz Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League records

Organizational Files 1934-2019

Scope and Contents

This series contains administrative records, correspondence, event records and ephemera, news clippings, and photographs that pertain to the activities of the Watsonville-Santa Cruz Japanese American Citizens League from 1934 to 2019. Administrative records include membership lists, financial documents and reports, and committee reports as well as JACL Senior Center and youth scholarship records. Event records and ephemera include programs, flyers, and planning materials related to Watsonville-Santa Cruz JACL events like the annual picnic and officer installation dinner-dances, national JACL conventions, congressional events, and other conferences.

Related Materials

Some records that fall within the scope of organizational files can be found in Series 2: Meeting Minutes.

Box 1, Folder 1

Composition Books circa 1930s

Box 1, Folder 2

Treasurer's Books 1934-1947

Box 1, Folder 3

JACL Third Anniversary Dinner 1936

Box 1, Folder 4

JACL Biennial Convention 1937

Box 1, Folder 5

Members 1937-1938

Box 1, Folder 6

JACL Membership Campaign circa 1941

Box 1, Folder 7

Watsonville Citizens League Articles of Incorporation 1949

Box 1, Folder 8

Congressional Record on Japanese American World War II Veterans 1963

Box 1, Folder 9

Administrative Records 1973

Scope and Contents

This file includes records related to the JACL picnic, cabinet and officer lists, and organizational correspondence.

Box 1, Folder 10

Members 1974-1986

Box 1, Folder 11

Administrative Records 1975

Scope and Contents

This file includes records related to the JACL picnic, Senior Center, president's reports, and finances.

Box 1, Folder 12

Correspondence 1975

Box 1, Folder 13

Picnic 1976

Box 1, Folder 14

Correspondence 1976

Box 1, Folder 15

Administrative Records 1976

Scope and Contents

This file includes records related to the JACL Senior Center, cabinet and officer lists, finances, and member lists.

Box 1, Folder 16

Correspondence 1977

Box 1, Folder 17

Administrative Records 1977

Scope and Contents

This file includes records related to the JACL Senior Center, finances, student scholarships, member lists, picnic, and an installation dinner program.

Box 1, Folder 18

JACL Building 1977-1978

Scope and Contents

This file includes original photographs that document the opening of the JACL building in Watsonville.

Box 1, Folder 19

Administrative Records and Correspondence 1978

Scope and Contents

This file includes financial records, organizational correspondence, and picnic records. It also includes photographic negatives depicting a float in the Watsonville Fourth of July parade.

Box 1, Folder 20

Correspondence 1979

Scope and Contents

This file includes a copy of the Watsonville-Santa Cruz JACL constitution.

Box 1, Folder 21

Administrative Records and Correspondence 1980

Scope and Contents

This file includes a youth program proposal, an overview of "Three Treasures a Question of Loyalty" Play, the national JACL constitution and bylaws, and organizational correspondence.

Box 1, Folder 22

JACL National Convention 1980

Box 1, Folder 23

"An American Testimonial "Program 1980

Box 1, Folder 24

Event Records 1984

Box 1, Folder 25

50th Anniversary Committee Reports 1984

Box 1, Folder 26

50th Anniversary Correspondence 1984

Box 1, Folder 27

50th Anniversary Event Materials 1984

Scope and Contents

This file includes original photographs and programs from the JACL 50th Anniversary event.

Box 1, Folder 28

50th Anniversary News Clippings 1984

Box 1, Folder 29

Correspondence 1985

Box 1, Folder 30

Administrative Files 1985

Scope and Contents

This file includes records related to the JACL newsletter and cabinet and board member lists.

Box 1, Folder 31

"In Celebration of Redress" Event Records 1988

Box 1, Folder 32

JACL Nikkei Educational Conference 1988

Box 1, Folder 33

"Appreciation and Recognition" Event Records 1989

Box 1, Folder 34

Picnic 1989

Box 1, Folder 35

Event Records 1990-1991

Box 1, Folder 36

Correspondence on Hate Incidents and Racism 1990-1992

Scope and Contents

This file includes correspondence in which JACL members address incidents of Anti-Japanese and Anti-Asian racism in Santa Cruz county. Some records include discussion of Anti-Japanese racial slurs.

Box 1, Folder 37

Correspondence 1992

Box 1, Folder 38

Administrative Records 1994

Scope and Contents

This file includes records related to the JACL picnic, finances, and member lists.

Box 1, Folder 39

Flood and Recovery 1995

Box 1, Folder 40

Senior Center 25th Anniversary Program 1996

Box 1, Folder 41

JACL Bowling 1997

Box 1, Folder 42

Kizuka Hall Photographs 2002

Box 1, Folder 43

Senior Center 33rd Anniversary 2004

Box 1, Folder 44

Correspondence 2005

Box 1, Folder 45

Administrative Records 2005

Scope and Contents

This file includes records related to the JACL Senior Center, events, and finances.

Box 1, Folder 46

JACL Joint Installation Luncheon Program 2006

Box 1, Folder 47

Correspondence 2007-2008

Box 1, Folder 48

Japanese Cultural Fair and JACL Picnic photographs 2009

Conditions Governing Access

Digital files are available in the UCSC Special Collections and Archives reading room. Some files may require reformatting before they can be accessed. Technical limitations may hinder the Library's ability to provide access to some digital files. Access to digital files on original carriers is prohibited; users must request to view access copies. Contact Special Collections and Archives in advance to request access to digital files.

Scope and Contents

This file includes photographs of the 2009 Japanese Culture Fair.

JCF 2009: Photos by Tosh Tanaka ms0525_med_0003 2009

Physical Description: 1 CD, 74 digital files

JCF 2009 PHIL ms0525_med_0004 2009

Physical Description: 1 CD, 15 digital files

JCF '09 Photos PHIL Unretouched ms0525_med_0005 2009

Physical Description: 1 CD, 279 digital files

Box 1, Folder 49

Northern California- Western Nevada-Pacific District JACL Conference 2016

Box 1, Folder 50

Northern California- Western Nevada-Pacific District JACL Conference 2017

Box 1, Folder 51

Correspondence 2018

Box 1, Folder 52

JACL National Convention 2018

Scope and Contents

This file includes copies of the national JACL's adopted resolutions regarding migrant detention at the U.S.-Mexico border and the so-called "Muslim travel ban."

Box 1, Folder 53

JACL National Convention 2019

Meeting Minutes 1948-2015

Scope and Contents

This series contains documents from the Watsonville-Santa Cruz Japanese American Citizens League's regular meetings of the board, cabinet, and committees from 1948 to 2015. The agendas and meeting minutes were created by secretaries of the chapter. This series also contains organizational records, including financial documents and reports, event records, and some correspondence, that were discussed during JACL meetings. These organizational records were originally compiled in binders and folders labeled "minutes."

Box 1, Folder 54

1948-1968

Box 1, Folder 55

1969

Box 1, Folder 56

1977

Box 1, Folder 57

1978

Box 2, Folder 1

1978

Box 2, Folder 2

1979

Box 2, Folder 3

1980

Box 2, Folder 4

1982-1984

Box 2, Folder 5

50th Anniversary Committee 1984

Box 2, Folder 6

1985

Box 2, Folder 7

1985

Box 2, Folder 8

1986

Box 2, Folder 9

1987

Box 2, Folder 10

1988

Box 2, Folder 11

1989

Box 2, Folder 12

1990

Box 2, Folder 13

1991

Box 2, Folder 14

1992

Box 2, Folder 15

1993

Box 2, Folder 16

1994

Box 2, Folder 17

1995

Box 2, Folder 18

1996

Box 2, Folder 19

1997

Box 2, Folder 20

1998

Box 2, Folder 21

1999

Box 2, Folder 22

2000

Box 2, Folder 23

2001

Box 2, Folder 24

2002

Box 2, Folder 25

2003

Box 2, Folder 26

2004

Box 2, Folder 27

2005

Box 2, Folder 28

2006

Box 2, Folder 29

2007

Box 2, Folder 30

2008

Box 2, Folder 31

2009

Box 2, Folder 32

2010

Box 2, Folder 33

2011

Box 2, Folder 34

2012

Box 2, Folder 35

2013

Box 3, Folder 1

2014

Box 3, Folder 2

2015

Community History Files circa 1920s-2024

Scope and Contents

This series contains records pertaining to the Watsonville-Santa Cruz Japanese American Citizens League's historical preservation and educational projects. These efforts were primarily led by Mas and Marcia Hashimoto. Records range from the 1920s through 2021 and include correspondence and ephemera related to public memorials and monuments, original and reproductions of photographs, family biographies, oral history interview transcripts, and educational materials. They also include administrative records of the JACL History Project led by the Hashimotos and records of the JACL's participation in the Preserving California's Japantowns project. Many of the photographs and family biographies in this series were sent to the Hashimotos by JACL members. Several photographs include community-generated identifications of subjects, locations, and dates.

Arrangement

This series is arranged alphabetically by title of folder, with the Oral History Projects component arranged at the end of the series.

Box 3, Folder 3

"A Lesson in American History: The Japanese American Experience" Workshop circa 2007

Box 3, Folder 4

Baseball Teams circa 1920-2004

Box 3, Folder 5

Buddhist Church 60th Anniversary 1966

Box 3, Folder 6

Buddhist Temple Photographs undated

Box 3, Folder 7

The Camp Dance 2005

Box 3, Folder 8

Clippings circa 1952-2007

Box 3, Folder 9

Correspondence: Adams circa 2002

Box 3, Folder 10

Correspondence: Boyle Photographs circa 2002

Box 3, Folder 11

Correspondence circa 2008

Box 3, Folder 12

Exhibitions 1992-1996

Box 3, Folder 13

Forced Removal and Incarceration Research Materials circa 2000s- 2010s

Box 3, Folder 14

Fujikawa Family Photographs undated

Box 3, Folder 15

Gila River Reunion and Monument 1995

Box 3, Folder 16

Introduction Japanese American History undated

Box 3, Folder 17

Issei Pioneers undated

Box 3, Folder 18

Issei Story undated

Box 3, Folder 19

James Izumizaki Oral History Transcript 1990

Scope and Contents

This is a transcript of an oral history interview with James Izumizaki that was conducted by A. Mae Lord in Spring 1986 as part of an oral history project sponsored by the Pajaro Valley Historical Association.

Box 3, Folder 20

Kitano Izumizaki Oral History Transcript 1989

Scope and Contents

This is a transcript of an oral history interview with Kitano Izumizaki that was conducted by A. Mae Lord in Spring 1986 as part of an oral history project sponsored by the Pajaro Valley Historical Association.

Box 3, Folder 21

Kitano Izumizaki Memorial 2015

Box 3, Folder 22

JACL History Project Records circa 2000-2006

Scope and Contents

This file includes notes and research materials related to JACL's historical preservation efforts including the oral history interviewing.

Box 3, Folder 23

Kitamura Family circa 2008

Box 3, Folder 24

Kizuka Family circa 1940-2001

Box 4, Folder 1

Matsuda Family Photographs circa 1920-2012

Box 3, Folder 25

Masako Miura Transcript 1919-2021

Scope and Contents

This file includes a transcript of an oral history interview with Masako Miura conducted by Gwen M. Jensen in 2002 as part of the Japanese American Medical Association's "Silent Scars of Healing Hands" oral history project.

Box 3, Folder 26

Jack Matsuoka circa 2005-2012

Conditions Governing Access

Digital files are available in the UCSC Special Collections and Archives reading room. Some files may require reformatting before they can be accessed. Technical limitations may hinder the Library's ability to provide access to some digital files. Access to digital files on original carriers is prohibited; users must request to view access copies. Contact Special Collections and Archives in advance to request access to digital files.

Jack Matsuoka's Sketches ms0525_med_0001 undated

Physical Description: 1 CD, 1 digital file

Scope and Contents

This is a short film about Jack Matsuoka's life and artwork.

"Internment Camp Life" by Jack Matsuoka and Sharon Hom ms0525_med_0002 2005

Physical Description: 1 CD, 1 digital file

Scope and Contents

This is a Powerpoint presentation with images of Jack Matsuoka's sketches about incarceration in Poston concentration camp.

Box 3, Folder 27

Oshima Family undated

Box 3, Folder 28

Photographs undated

Box 3, Folder 29

Preserving California's Japantowns circa 2006-2007

Scope and Contents

This file includes records related to the Watsonville-Santa Cruz JACL's involvement in the Preserving California's Japantowns project, which aimed to provide an overview of 43 historic enclaves in the state.

Box 4

Poston Concentration Camp Map undated

Box 3, Folder 30

Poston Reunion and Restoration circa 2011

Box 3, Folder 31

"Liberty Lost . . . Lessons in Loyalty" Re-Enactment circa 2002

Scope and Contents

This file includes the program for the Watsonville-Santa Cruz JACL's 2002 re-enactment of forced removal and incarceration entitled "Liberty Lost . . . Lessons in Loyalty."

Box 3, Folder 32

Sako Family undated

Box 3, Folder 33

Sugidono Family undated

Box 3, Folder 34

Toyo Hall circa 2009

Box 3, Folder 35

Yagi Family circa 2004

Oral History Projects 1949-2024

Conditions Governing Access

Audiovisual media is unavailable until reformatted. Digital files are available in the UCSC Special Collections and Archives reading room. Some files may require reformatting before they can be accessed. Technical limitations may hinder the Library's ability to provide access to some digital files. Access to digital files on original carriers is prohibited; users must request to view access copies. Contact Special Collections and Archives in advance to request access to audiovisual media and digital files.

Scope and Contents

This component contains records of the Watsonville-Santa Cruz Japanese American Citizens League's oral history projects conducted in 2004 and 2006. In total, it includes fourteen recorded interviews with second-generation, or Nisei, Japanese Americans. In the interviews, narrators discuss their experiences growing up in the Pajaro Valley and broader Monterey Bay area and forced removal and incarceration during World War II. Some interviews also cover family involvement in the Watsonville Buddhist Temple and Church and U.S. military service. This component also includes files on narrators from the 2006 oral history project. These include pre- and post-interview notes compiled by the Hashimotos, consent forms, narrator biographies, photographs, memorial information, and news clippings as well as DVDs and one miniDV with recordings of the interviews.

Arrangement

This component is arranged alphabetically by last name of narrator.

Box 3, Folder 36

Japanese Americans in Watsonville and the Pajaro Valley ms0525_med_0006 2004

Physical Description: 1 CD and 53 digital files

Scope and Contents

This file contains a CD with digital files of the Watsonville-Santa Cruz JACL's 2004 oral history project. The digital files include photographs of oral history narrators and interviewers; photographs taken during a tour of Watsonville's Japantown; and audio recordings of oral history interviews conducted by Linda Pham with Kitako Izumizaki, Shigeru "Shig" Kizuka, and Mas Hashimoto and transcripts of the interviews. Some recordings of Mas Hashimoto were taken during a tour of Watsonville's Japantown.

Box 3, Folder 37

Lorraine Nitta Enomoto 2006

Scope and Contents

This file includes records related to Lorraine Nitta Enomoto's oral history interview including notes, a consent form, and a DVD with a digital video file of her interview.

Oral History Recording ms0525_vid_0001 2006

Physical Description: 1 DVD and 1 digital file, 32 minutes

Scope and Contents

In this interview on August 15, 2006, Lorraine Nitta Enomoto spoke with Mas Hashimoto. Enomoto narrated her family's immigration from Hiroshima, Japan to the United States. She shared her experiences growing-up in the Pajaro Valley before World War II. She explained that her family worked as berry sharecroppers on Porter Ranch before acquiring property on Roache Road where they farmed until the war. She remembered being forcibly removed to the temporary detention center on the Salinas rodeo grounds before being incarcerated at Poston concentration camp. Enomoto discussed receiving training as a nurses aid in Poston and working as a nurses aid in Ann Arbor, Michigan and Denver, Colorado during the war. She remembered returning to Watsonville after the war where she was married to Willie Enomoto. The couple operated a shoe repair business in Watsonville.

Box 3, Folder 38

Nancy Tada Iwami 2006

Scope and Contents

This file includes records related to Nancy Tada Iwami's oral history interview including notes, a biography, and a DVD with a digital video file of her interview.

Oral History Recording ms0525_vid_0002 2006

Physical Description: 1 DVD and 1 digital file, 58 minutes

Scope and Contents

In this interview on April 25, 2006, Nancy Tada Iwami spoke with Marcia and Mas Hashimoto. Iwami shared details of her family's immigration from Okayama, Japan to the Pajaro Valley. She explained that her father arrived in Watsonville in 1913 and began working as a farm laborer and strawberry sharecropper. Iwami remembered attending rural Pajaro Valley schools as well as a Japanese school run by the Kizuka family. In 1936, she married Charlie Iwami who ran a barbershop on Main Street. Iwami discussed being incarcerated in Poston concentration camp and working in the kitchen before temporarily resettling in Denver, Colorado. In Denver, Nancy worked in a book binding factory. She explained that she and her family returned to Watsonville after the war ended. Eventually, Charlie started a gardening business and Nancy had a job as a domestic worker. Finally, Iwami remembered Watsonville's pre-war Japantown. She described Japanese-owned businesses as well as gambling operations that existed on Main Street.

Box 3, Folder 39

Mas Hashimoto 2006, 2024

Scope and Contents

This file includes two interviews with Mas Hashimoto: one video interview conducted on May 9, 2006 and one audio interview conducted on October 20, 2006. It also includes a program from a 2024 celebration of life event for Mas, who passed away in 2022.

Oral History Recording ms0525_vid_0003 2006 May 9

Physical Description: 1 DVD and 1 digital file, 58 minutes

Scope and Contents

In this interview on May 9, 2006, Mas Hashimoto spoke with Marcia Hashimoto, his wife. Mas discussed his parents' immigration from Fukuoka, Japan to the United States. In Watsonville, Mas's parents worked as cooks and caterers for many Japanese community events. Mas also shared that the family raised and sold chrysanthemums, canaries, and sake out of their home on Union Street. After his father's death in 1938, the family worked as onion sharecroppers off San Andreas Road. Mas also remembered his family's experiences during World War II, including forced removal to the temporary detention center on the Salinas rodeo grounds and incarceration in Poston concentration camp. He reflected on the experience of returning to Watsonville after the war and his career as a teacher at Watsonville High School.

Oral History Recording ms0525_med_0007 2006 October 20

Physical Description: 1 CD and 1 digital file, 74 minutes

Scope and Contents

In this interview on October 20, 2006, Mas Hashimoto spoke with Kayce Pavlovich. Mas explained how his father and mother immigrated to the United States and settled in Watsonville where they ran a restaurant and catering service. He shared that his two older brothers were sent to Japan to attend school and one was drafted into the Japanese Imperial Army. Mas also remembered his family's experiences during World War II, including forced removal to the temporary detention center on the Salinas rodeo grounds, incarceration in Poston concentration camp, and his brothers' and other Nisei's service in the U.S. military.

Box 3, Folder 40

Paul Hiura 2006

Scope and Contents

This file includes records related to Paul Hiura's oral history interview including notes, a consent form, and a DVD with a digital video file of his interview.

Oral History Recording ms0525_vid_0004 2006

Physical Description: 1 DVD and 1 digital file, 62 minutes

Scope and Contents

In this interview on November 14, 2006, Paul Hiura and Beverly Yuriko Hiura spoke with Mas Hashimoto. Hiura described his grandfather's and father's immigration from Hiroshima, Japan to the United States. He explained that they started an apple drying business in Sebastopol, CA before moving it to Watsonville in the mid-1930s. The Hiura's apple drying plant was located on Beach Street and the family lived behind it. Hiura remembered how his father was taken to the Fort Lincoln detention facility in Bismarck, North Dakota where he was interrogated by the FBI due to his position as an Issei community leader. He also discussed being forcibly removed to the temporary detention center on the Salinas rodeo grounds and incarcerated at Poston concentration camp. Hiura described his family's experience returning to Watsonville in 1945. He also discussed the wooden carvings his father created while he was incarcerated. His carvings are shown at the end of the video.

Box 3, Folder 41

Evelyn Matsui Kamigawachi 2006

Scope and Contents

This file includes records related to Evelyn Matsui Kamigawachi's oral history interview including notes and a DVD with a digital video file of her interview.

Oral History Recording ms0525_vid_0005 2006

Physical Description: 1 DVD and 1 digital file, 59 minutes

Scope and Contents

In this interview on May 2, 2006, Evelyn Matsui Kamigawachi spoke with Marcia Hashimoto. Kamigawachi describes her parents' immigration from Kumamoto, Japan to the United States. She explained that her father arrived in Watsonville in 1900. The family farmed strawberries on Mason ranch and later moved to Martinelli ranch where they farmed tomatoes. Kamigawachi shared her experiences growing-up in the rural areas of the Pajaro Valley, doing agricultural labor, and attending Carlton school. She described her father's work as a truck farmer which involved him selling produce in Monterey. Kamigawachi also described Watsonville's Japantown before World War II. She reflected on her experiences being forcibly removed to a temporary detention facility on the Salinas rodeo grounds and incarcerated in Poston concentration camp where she worked as a cook. After the war, the family relocated to San Jose then Gilroy before returning to Watsonville where they continued to work in agriculture. Finally, she described meeting her husband Carmel Kamigawachi while harvesting strawberries for the Arao family in Moss Landing.

Box 3, Folder 42

Shigeru Kizuka 2001-2008

Scope and Contents

This file includes records related to Shigeru "Shig" Thomas Kizuka's oral history interview including notes and a DVD with a digital video file of his interview. It also contains a biography, correspondence, and newspaper clippings.

Oral History Recording ms0525_vid_0006 2006

Physical Description: 1 DVD and 1 digital file, 60 minutes

Scope and Contents

In this interview on March 9, 2006, Shigeru "Shig" Thomas Kizuka spoke with Mas Hashimoto. Kizuka described his parents' immigration from Fukuoka, Japan to the United States. He explained that his parents worked as truck farmers and grew a variety of crops on a farm on Riverside Road in Watsonville. Kizuka discussed attending Watsonville High School before the outbreak of World War II. He remembered being forcibly removed to the temporary detention center on the Salinas rodeo grounds and being incarcerated in Poston concentration camp. Kizuka also explained that his father was taken to the Fort Lincoln detention facility in Bismarck, North Dakota where he was interrogated by the FBI due to his position as an Issei community leader. He shared his experiences in Poston including working as a cook and playing sports. Kizuka reflected on his experience with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and the actions for which he received the Bronze Star and Purple Heart medals.

Box 3, Folder 43

Tom Mine 2006

Scope and Contents

This file includes records related to Tom Mine's oral history interview including notes and a DVD with a digital video file of his interview. It also includes newspaper clippings.

Oral History Recording ms0525_vid_0009 2006

Physical Description: 1 DVD and 1 digital file, 61 minutes

Scope and Contents

In this interview on September 19, 2006, Tom Mine spoke with Mas Hashimoto. Mine described his family's immigration history and explained that his father sharecropped strawberries in Watsonville during the 1920s. Mine remembered playing sports including baseball at Watsonville High School from 1933 to 1936 as well as his experience playing for the Watsonville Apple Giants, a Japanese American baseball team. He shared that his father farmed lettuce near Walker Street and Ford Street and eventually purchased property on Beach Road in Tom's name due to California's laws that restricted Japanese immigrants from owning property. During World War II, the Mine family leased their property to a German individual who farmed it while they were incarcerated. He explained that his father was taken to the Fort Lincoln detention facility in Bismarck, North Dakota where he was interrogated by the FBI due to his position as an Issei community leader. Mine remembered his experience being incarcerated in Poston concentration camp where he worked as an athletic director. He remembered returning to the family farm in Watsonville in 1946 and growing lettuce.

Box 3, Folder 44

Fred Oda 2006-2007

Scope and Contents

This file includes notes related to Fred Oda's oral history interview. It also includes a biography, notes, photographs, and newspaper clippings.

Box 5

Oral History Recording ms0525_vid_0010 2006

Physical Description: 1 MiniDV, 1 audio cassette

Conditions Governing Access

Audiovisual media is unavailable until reformatted. Contact Special Collections and Archives in advance to request access to audiovisual media.

Box 3, Folder 45

Howard Tao 2006

Scope and Contents

This file includes records related to Howard Tao's oral history interview including notes, a biography, photograph, and a DVD with a digital video file of his interview.

Oral History Recording ms0525_vid_0008 2006

Physical Description: 1 DVD and 1 digital file, 56 minutes

Scope and Contents

In this interview on September 29, 2006, Howard Tao spoke with Marcia Hashimoto. Tao described his parents' immigration to the Pajaro Valley in the late 1890s and explained that they farmed near Beach Road in Watsonville. He remembered voluntarily relocating to Utah during World War II where he and his family continued to work in agriculture. Tao reflected on being drafted into the United States military in 1944 and returning to Watsonville with his family in 1946. He explained that his family lived in the Redman-Hirahara House and worked thinning lettuce before he and his brothers were able to buy land on San Andreas Road where they began growing strawberries. Tao also described a business venture in which he raised and sold chinchillas. Finally, he discusses the social and labor organizations he and his family participated in.

Box 3, Folder 46

Masano Yamashita 1949-2006

Scope and Contents

This file includes records related to Masano Yamashita's oral history interview including notes and a DVD with a digital video file of her interview. It also includes family photographs and documents.

Oral History Recording ms0525_vid_0007 2006

Physical Description: 1 DVD and 1 digital file, 58 minutes

Scope and Contents

In this interview on April 22, 2006, Masano Murakami Yamashita spoke with Marcia Hashimoto. Yamashita explained that her father, who arrived in Watsonville in 1903, was one of the first Japanese settlers to farm strawberries in the Pajaro Valley and a charter member of the Watsonville Buddhist Temple. She shared her experience attending Amesti school which, at the time, was a segregated Japanese school and described traveling to Japan to live with her grandmother from age seven to fourteen. Yamashita reflected on how she had to restart her schooling when she returned to Amesti school and shared that she graduated at age eighteen. She also remembered Watsonville's pre-war Japantown, her experiences working on farms, attending Sunday school, and joining the Young Buddhist Association. She shared that she married Minoru Yamashita whose family owned Pajaro Valley Fish Market on Main Street. Yamashita explained that she, her husband, and children were incarcerated in Tule Lake concentration camp while her parents and other family members were incarcerated in Poston concentration camp. She described returning to Watsonville after the war and reopening the Pajaro Valley Fish Market in a new location on Union Street.