PARTNER

OBJECT ID

ddr-ajah-6-238 (1910-1920s_Koga-Matao-and-friend)

PARENT COLLECTION

Alameda Japanese American History Project: Family and Community Collection

DESCRIPTION

Caption below photo: Unknown Issei man (at left) with Matao Koga. Koga immigrated from Japan and lived in San Francisco, CA. He married Shigeko Iwaihara, of Alameda, CA., in 1939. He worked as a Benshi, a man who showed silent movies. Benshi in Japan were as much of an attraction as the stars of the film, and could draw a crowd to the theater on their own name. Koga became a Bensho in Northern California after a Benshi with a great reputation, Chonmage Namiemon, returned to Japan in early 1939. Namiemon could be the man at left.

CONTRIBUTOR

Alameda Japanese American History Project

PREFERRED CITATION

Alameda Japanese American History Project. Densho

RIGHTS