Title: "Whites Try to Buy Them Out at Low Price, Say Japanese," Seattle Times, 3/6/1942, (ddr-densho-56-669)
Densho ID: ddr-densho-56-669

Whites Try to Buy Them Out at Low Price, Say Japanese

Seattle-born Japanese business men, facing possibilities of losing their establishments through evacuation, are doing business as usual here -- but with their fingers crossed.

A few, however, already are conducting "removal sales," and many complain that they are being annoyed by white competitors, who want to buy the Japanese owner's stock at 5 or 10 cents on the dollar, now that the Japanese are faced with evacuation.

The Japanese know not at what time the government will order them to leave Seattle immediately. Neither do they know how long they will have to dispose of their stocks.

Though Seattle's American-born Japanese are facing heavy losses, they ask no sympathy. They say their greatest heartache is the severe blow to their pride in citizenship.

"Because we are good Americans and have been taught the American spirit we can take it," said one. "We are anxious to do our part. It is a very small sacrifice for the right to be an American."

Presidents' Names Taken

A typical situation is that of the Beppu brothers, who operate a fishing-tackle store at 600 Third Ave. Named after Presidents, they are Taft; Lincoln and Grant Beppu. They have a younger brother, Monroe Beppu, who is in the United States Army. All were born in Seattle.

They have been in business eight years and were about to reap the profits of the approaching fishing season. Because of their business record, much of their stock will be taken back to wholesalers at no loss. However, there is a great deal of other stock, which might be tied up for the duration.

"We do not want to be idle," said Taft. "We want to do our part. If we are sent inland, there won't be much to do in the fishing-tackle business. But whatever the government wants us to be, farmers, carpenters, ranchers or apple pickers, we'll do our best.

"We want to do something in which we best will be serving our country. We don't want sympathy; we want to put our shoulders to the wheel."

Mits and George Kashiwagi, operators of clothing stores at 615 Jackson St., and 308 Main St., have had several offers, which would net them about 10 per cent of their stock's value. But they said they rather would have the government take over their business than to sell at such a loss.

The Kashiwagi brothers are classified 3-A by the Selective

Service Board. Their coatmaker Charles Mizoguchi, and their cutter, Lake Hoshino, are 1-A and will be inducted soon.

Employes Protected

Kenji Kawaguchi and Fred Takagi, who operate a fuel company at 118 14th Ave. S., have had chances to sell without loss, but said they will continue their business so their three helpers will have jobs. Takagi will be inducted into the Army Monday.

Miss May Katayama, who operates a flower shop at 85 Pike St., in the Pike Place Market, is hoping to sell her shop, on which she is making final payments. Miss Katayama, a Bainbridge Island girl, took over the shop last November.

Miss Sakayeko Habu, owner of a flower shop at 905 Jackson St., his faith in the government, and refuses to sell her shop for a quarter of what it is worth.

Sisters Carry On

Since Takaaki Okazaki was inducted into the United States Army last June, his three sisters, Kiyoko, Amy and Miyoko Okazaki, have been managing his furniture store at 825 Jackson St. They are conducting a removal sale, because the government wants the building by April 1. They are doing business with their fingers crossed, hoping to be sold out before an evacuation is ordered.

After Pearl Harbor, the first move of George Mukai, operator of a fishing-tackle store at 611 Third Ave., was to change the name of his store from "Tokyo" to "Union Fishing Tackle."

Fearing a shortage, many Japanese fishing-tackle stores ordered greater supplies than ever this year.

Market to Be Affected

J.F. Davidson, market master of the Pike Place Public Market the past two years, believes that if Japanese are evacuated, their leaving will be noticed first in the vegetable business.

"Approximately 95 per cent of the vegetables grown here are raised by Japanese," Davidson said. "About 35 per cent of the sellers in the market are Japanese. Many white persons are leaving the produce business to take defense jobs, which are not open to Japanese."

Because the only investments Japanese farmers have are in planting, they are putting nothing in the ground this year. They are afraid they might not be here for the harvest.

Ill-Feeling Not Noted

Davidson said there has been no more ill-feeling shown the Japanese since Pearl Harbor than before. The same group of "cranks" were complaining in peace time and probably always will, he said.

A Japanese must be an American citizen to rent a stall at the market. Two alien Japanese, hired by citizens to work in the market, were interned.

In event of evacuation, it is possible that a glove factory here would move to Eastern Washington so that skilled Japanese workers could continue with the firm, company officials said. A sanction would be necessary from the Army, however.