2008 Woodie Awards
A glimpse of Japanese-American history
Karyn Gilbert
Issue date: 3/4/05 Section: News
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Nagai came out to give a brief explanation of Japanese-American history, before introducing Ashley and Barry Saiki.
"I'm proud to say I was one of his (Ashley's) teachers," said Nagai.
Along with a slide show presentation, Ashley discussed the life-changing history that surrounded the Saiki family and their upward mobility.
Yasabura Saiki, Barry's father, was one of many who traveled from Hiroshima, Japan, to parts of Hawaii and U.S. mainland.
Some traveled on the U.S.S. China of the Pacific Mail Company, a steamliner from the 1870's era. Later travelers were carried on cargo haulers, and third-class accommodation for occupants, but it wasn't the best way to travel. The people stayed in a fuel-fumed area, where the ship tossed and turned, making most of the passengers seasick. Second-class food was served, but there were no portholes air circulation.
Yasaburo made it to Hawaii, where the housing was dreadful, according to Ashley, proving his point with photographs. The living conditions had an "ethnic wedge," because they were divided into ethnic groups like Chinese, Filipinos, Whites, Koreans, Portuguese, etc.
The labor for the Japanese women was "bone crushing," Ashley said, as they had to work 12 hour days, for six days a week, cutting sugar cane.
Shige Saiki, Barry's mother, was one woman among 300 men as the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 lessened the flow of Chinese into America, making the white farmers of Contra Costa County dependent on Japanese immigrants. She was the one who cooked and did the washing for everyone around her.
"She did all the Japanese cooking that fed the employees," said Barry Saiki. "People would bring in clothes that hadn't been worn just to see her."
The Saiki family started a boarding house with a pool hall in Stockton, which was located on 311 South El Dorado Road, called "Itsukushima," which means "beautiful island." This hall was occupied by many first-generation Japanese, who held meetings to talk, read, spread news, and socialize with their kin.
Ashley explained that Yasaburo would let people off with IOU, which later added up to $4,000. Later they opened a second hotel, Hotel Revere, which included a pool room and restaurant, in 1925.
Ashley went on to note Dr. Kensuke Akimoto and George Shima, were Americanized through accommodation.
Shima became a millionaire, and was known as the "Potato King" after growing potatoes in the Stockton area, and is the man the Delta Shima building was named after. He welcomed the whites, but was loathed because of his good fortune.
"He became a millionaire and embraced the whites and was despised because he made better money," Ashley said.
In 1924, the Ku Klux Klan sent people down the streets of Stockton demonstrating the racial hatred and violence that so many white Christians felt.
"These are thorns in the sides of upward mobility," Barry Saiki said of the KKK.
After the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the Japanese Dec. 7, 1941, many people of Japanese descent were imprisoned, given a curfew, their bank accounts were frozen and they were subject to violence by Americans. At this time, Barry Saiki was a student at UC Berkeley.
Barry's father was picked up the first day after Pearl Harbor, but released the day after, because his lungs were bad. He was picked up on two more occasions, and each time released. He was giving a special examination, taken by FBI agents and was told he could only take one suitcase. The Saiki family didn't know where he was until a year later.
"We found out he was in New Mexico and we were in Arkansas," said Barry Saiki.
Since their bank accounts were frozen, they made very little, but when Barry made it to New Mexico to visit his father, Yasaburo gave him $700, $100 for each child and the rest to his wife.
"Use these when times get tough," Ashley said Barry's father told him about the money.
Barry was a co-editor of the "El Joaquin," which was started in the Stockton Assembly Center in 1942, and lasted five months. Later, in 1943, Barry joined "The Pen" magazine, where Dr. Akimoto's son, George, drew some of the artwork.
"I am honored to own a copy," Ashley said of the magazine that has "mightier than the swords" across the cover.
Barry was drafted in the U.S. Army in 1944, but not before he got permission to meet with his father in the internment camp.
"I saw 1,500 well-known Japanese leaders," said Barry. "I had one hour for three days, but (I only stayed) two days." He was told to leave to tell his mother that his father was still alive.
Barry served for 22 years and attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
As everyone moved to the Mustang Room, one student asked Saiki his thoughts on his life. He answered:
"One hundred-six tribes (were) all over California, then the Spanish missionaries built 21 (missions) on the coast, Russian's came to Northern California in Fort Ross, the French Canadians (had) French Camp, the Gold Rush -- freed blacks, the Chinese helped build the railroads, Japanese came singles, then built families, then Filipinos in 1920, then 'Okies' and 'Arkies' came as groups in 1930, vets and Asians, etc. Race groups came to California and managed to raise standards -- and this is the California history as I see it."