This repository item may be used for classroom presentations, unpublished papers, and other educational, research, or scholarly use. Other uses, especially publication in any form, such as in dissertations, theses, articles, or web pages are not permitted without the express written permission of the individual collection's copyright holder(s). Please contact the CSULB Library Administration should you require permission to publish or distribute any content from this collection or if you need additional information or assistance in using these materials.
Description
Richard Kawasaki interviewed George Ishibashi on January 23, 2004 at his home in Gardena, California. Ishibashi is a descendant of a family that pioneered dry farming in Palos Verdes and Kawasaki is also a descendant of another Palos Verdes farming family. George Ishibashi grew up on a farm in Palos Verdes, California. His father immigrated to the US in the late 1890s and leased his first farm in 1906. The family successfully grew peas and other crops without irrigation or tractors. Following Japan's bombing of Pearl Harbor, the family's lease was unceremoniously ended. Ishibashi and his family were incarcerated in an incarceration camp in Poston, Arizona during WWII. Ishibashi left the camp to work sugar beet farms and was able to travel while on leave from the US Army. After the war, Ishibashi resettled in Palos Verdes leasing the same land his father farmed before the war. The land dwindled as residential development covered the peninsula. Ishibashi took jobs as a mechanic, was evicted from his farm a second time and eventually retired in Gardena, California. Ishibashi was interviewed as part of the South Bay History Project created by the South Bay Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League. Includes sixteen oral histories reflecting the various experiences of South Bay Issei and Nisei. Some grew up on farms and others in suburban area; some were incarcerated during WWII in incarceration camps and some spent all or part of the war working and living in other parts of the US or Japan. All of them returned to the South Bay after WWII and observed the changes that have occurred in area through the end of the twentieth century.
Identity and values--Nisei Immigration and citizenship--Arrival Immigration and citizenship--Picture brides Geographic communities--California Industry and employment--Agriculture--Farming Industry and employment--Fishing and canneries World War II--Pearl Harbor and aftermath World War II--Mass removal ('Evacuation') World War II--Incarceration camps World War II--Military service--Recruiting and enlisting World War II--Leaving camp--Work leave World War II--Leaving camp--Returning home Race and racism--Discrimination Community activities--Associations and organizations--Japanese American Citizens League
Place
Gardena, California Incarceration Camps--Poston (Colorado River)
If you're wondering about permissions and what you can do with this item, a good starting point is the "rights information" on this page. See our terms of use for more tips.
Share your story
Has Calisphere helped you advance your research, complete a project, or find something meaningful? We'd love to hear about it; please send us a message.
