This collection contains kensho mawashi (sumo ceremonial belt), wooden bird pins, books, and photographs. Photographs in the collection include images of sumo wrestlers, sumo wrestling tournaments and events, photographs from Los Angeles, and family photographs in the United States and Japan.

Ottojiro (Otto) Sasashima (circa 1877) immigrated to the United States around 1905. He was married to Kura Noguchi, who most likely immigrated to the United States later than her husband. They had two sons, Arata Sasashima (1902-May 14, 1961), who grew up in Japan until he came to the United States, and Chester Sasashima (April 5, 1917-April 13, 1999). Their mother, Kura, died during the influenza epidemic in 1918.Kichitaro Udo (September 1879 or 1880-1961) immigrated from Japan when he was young and met his wife, Sude Fukushia (August 10, 1988 or 1889-1972). Kichitaro and Sude were married in San Francisco in 1915. They had seven children together, including Akiko Lilie Udo Sasashima. The family briefly moved back to Japan when Kichitaro's parents died, and the family stayed for a few years. During World War II, the Udo family was incarcerated at the Granada incarceration camp. They most likely moved back to California after the war.

2 boxes

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of the Gerth Archives and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Gerth Archives and Special Collections as the owner of the physical materials and not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

There are no access restrictions on this collection.