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Udo and Sasashima Family Papers
SPC.2021.034  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Preferred Citation
  • Conditions Governing Access
  • Immediate Source of Acquisition
  • Conditions Governing Use
  • Related Materials
  • Processing Information
  • Scope and Contents
  • Sasashima Family
  • Udo Family
  • Separated Materials
  • Bibliography

  • Contributing Institution: California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections
    Title: Udo and Sasashima Family Papers
    source: Takumi
    Identifier/Call Number: SPC.2021.034
    Physical Description: 2 boxes
    Date (inclusive): circa 1900-1945; undated
    Abstract: 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.
    Language of Material: English .

    Preferred Citation

    For information about citing archival material, see the Citations for Archival Material  guide, or consult the appropriate style manual.

    Conditions Governing Access

    There are no access restrictions on this collection.

    Immediate Source of Acquisition

    This collection was donated by Barbara Takumi in 2020.

    Conditions Governing Use

    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.

    Related Materials

    This collection is part of the California State University Japanese American Digitization Project. For more information: CSU Japanese American Digitization Project. 

    Processing Information

    This collection was processed by Jennifer Hill in 2022.

    Scope and Contents

    The Udo and Sasashima Family Papers (circa 1900-1940) includes a kensho mawashi (sumo ceremonial belt), wooden bird pins, books, and photographs related to sumo wrestling and the Sasashima and Udo family. The photographs in the collection are from sumo wrestling tournaments, photographs in Los Angeles, and family photographs of most likely Akiko with her children. The sumo wrestling photographs are most likely of her husband, Arata Sasashima. Additionally, there is one oversized photograph of an Udo family member, possibly Kichihei Udo, and a panoramic photograph of a sumo wrestling tournament in California.

    Sasashima Family

    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.
    Arata Sasashima immigrated to the United States in 1917. Before moving to the United States, Arata may have been a sumo wrestler. He wrestled in the 1930s in California. In 1937, he married his wife, Akiko Lilie Udo Sasashima (July 19, 1916-February 20, 2013), and they had five children together, Barbara Takumi, Peggy Sasashima Liggett, Shirley Ihara, Linda Sasashima, and Larry Sasashima. The Sasashima family was forcibly removed to the Rower incarceration camp during World War II. At the end of World War II, they moved back to Sanger, California. In 1955, Arata and his brother Chester bought a farm together.
    Chester Sasashima grew up in the United States after his brother died in 1918, he was adopted by a hispanic family who worked with his father. Around twelve years old Chester moved back in with Otto, until he died when Chester was in high school. After Otto died, Chester moved in with his widowed uncle and his uncle's partner who owned a truck farm together. Chester worked on the farm until he was drafted in 1940 to the 40th Infantry Division. Following his discharge in December 1945, he went to California Flyers School and got his engineer aircraft government license. He worked for several aircraft agencies in Los Angeles before working on a farm and later opening his own with his brother. Chester worked on the farm until he got a job at General Cable. Chester and Aikiko later married in 1966 and continued to operate the farm.

    Udo Family

    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.

    Separated Materials

    Six books are separated from the collection. These include: America's Concentration Camps, Journey to Topaz, The Bamboo People, Confinement and Ethnicity, Citizens 13660, and Becoming Americans.

    Bibliography

    Hasegawa, Yoshino. Chester and Akiko Lilian Sasashima, 07 July 1980. Success Through Perserverance. FCPL Sasashima, Chester and Lilian. California State University Fresno, Fresno, California. Hasegawa, Yoshino. Chester and Akiko Lilian Sasashima. 

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Japanese Americans -- California, Southern
    Japanese Americans -- California
    Japanese American families
    Wrestlers
    Sumo
    Udo
    Sasashima
    Takumi