Densho Digital Archive - Henry Nishi Interview I (denshovh-nhenry

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RP: What do you think your father's motivation was to come to the United States since he was the only son and he normally, in Japanese tradition, would inherit the farm?

HN: Well, I guess for economic reasons.

RP: It's...

HN: I guess it was... had, had not much chance of... well, that was not a, not a real prosperous situation.

RP: Right. It might have been a depression or economic downturn?

HN: Yeah, yeah. I think it was in the real late 1800s, just before 1900.

RP: That he came over?

HN: He came to this country, yeah.

RP: Uh-huh. Do you know how old he was when he came?

HN: Gosh, I don't remember. He was pretty young. He was pretty young.

RP: In his teens?

HN: I think he was at least that or maybe early twenties.

RP: Did he, did he have much schooling in Japan before he came to the United States?

HN: I think just high school.

RP: And where did he land? Did he come through San Francisco or Seattle or...

HN: I think it must have been San Francisco. I think at that time, most of the people came into, to San Francisco. But I'm not sure. But, I think the, the passenger ships from Japan at that time came into San Francisco harbor. I'm just guessing. [Laughs]

RP: And where did he seek employment? In San Francisco or did he drift south or north?

HN: Well, he had an uncle that was already here. And that motivated him to come, come to L.A.

RP: The uncle's name?

HN: Yuwasa.

RP: And what was he doing here in Los Angeles?

HN: He was, had something to do with the fish cannery in Terminal Island. And also he had something to do with the, the starting of the... I think he had something to do with the starting of the Rafu Shimpo, the newspaper. He also, I think he, he started this Japanese Chamber of Commerce in Los Angeles.

RP: Well, he was heavily involved in the community.

HN: Yeah, yeah.

RP: Very business-oriented.

HN: Yeah.