Yoshiko Shibuya

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Yoshiko Shibuya (1908-2013) gift med Seijiro Inose


Far: Seijiro Shibuya.

Mor:Souko

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1 YOSHIKO SHIBUYA  – 1908-2013

Yoshiko Shibuya

Shibuya was born in Hollywood on September 24, 1908. She was the second of four daughters born to Seijiro and Souko Shibuya. Illustration I – Yoshiko Shibuya – aged 5 ½. Her siblings were Kimiko Shibuya, Yaeko Shibuya and Chieko Shibuya – Illustration II – Shibuya family.

Illustration I - Yoshiko Shibuya April 1914 – age 5 1/2 Illustration II - Shibuya Family 1912 –Souko, Yaeko, Yoshiko, Kimiko, Seijiro Shibuya. Fourth daughter, Chieko, not born yet.

2 The following are the descendents of Yoshiko Shibuya Yoshiko Shibuya and Seijiro Inose

1. (Ken) Kenichi Inose (m. Kay Kayoko Sakai) 

Donald Takashi Inose 

Judy Inose (m. Gregory Boden Jobes) 

Krislyn Kayoko Jobes 

Jonathan Steele Jobes 

Robert Jiro Inose b. 8-2-66, d. 8-3-66 

2. (Rose) Kiyoko Inose (m. Ray Isao Yoshiyama) 

Kathy Akemi Yoshiyama (m. Craig Masayuki Handa) 

Anthony Thomas Handa 

Derek William Handa 

Bryan Shoji Yoshiyama (m. Nancy Chiyeko Nozaki) 

Lauren Kiyomi Yoshiyama 

Lindsey Hisae Yoshiyama 

Karen Sayuri Yoshiyama (m Alexander Bunuan) 

Austin Takeo Bunuan 

Brandon Takeji Bunuan 

3. (Helen) Hiroko Inose (m. Masao George Sakamoto) 

Steven Masao Sakamoto 

Jeffery Yutaka Sakamoto (m. Carol Shizuyo Ito) 

Jessica Mie Sakamoto 

Tyson Masa Sakamoto 

Diane Misako Sakamoto (m. (Lance) Tsuyoshi Kuramoto) 

4. Lily Yuriko Inose (m. David Takeshi Nakatani) 

Cynthia Yoshie Nakatani (m. Niels Kirk Thomsen) 

Thomas Thomsen (son of Niels Thomson) 

Hanne Takeko Thomsen 

Sharon Seiko Nakatani (m. James Alexander Goddard) 

Helena Yuriko Goddard 

Evelyn Yoshiko Goddard

Because of her father’s illness (tuberculosis), the family (mother and daughters) was sent back to Japan in 1915. Prior to the family traveling back to Japan, they took a picture with their neighbor friends, Marjory and Helen. Helen stayed 3 behind the screen door to take the photo because she had the measles. On the ship back to Japan, Yoshiko came down with the measles. Kimiko and Yaeko had the measles at Souko Shibuya’s house. Their eyes were really red, and they just passed inspection upon arriving in Yokohama, Japan.

Upon arriving in Yokohama, they rode a jinrikisha (Ricksha) and stayed at a yadoya (a Japanese style Inn) in Yokohama. At the yadoya, this was the first encounter with an outhouse toilet and Yoshiko refused to use it.

The mother and daughters lived with Yamamoto Obasan for 1-2 weeks then went to Nagaoka for one year. In 1916, the family moved to Tokyo and Yoshiko attended Meiko Shogakko (Meiko Elementary School) in Tokyo. Then she spent two years at the Tokyo Furitsu Dai-ni High School (now called Takehaya Koko). The family then moved to Niigata for Yoshiko’s mother to care for her father-in-law, Asakichi Shibuya. Yoshiko attended Niigata Kenritsu Nagaoka High School and graduated in 1926.

Her Aunt Tatsu Inose (sister of Seijiro Shibuya) in Los Angeles told Yoshiko and her sister, Kimiko, to come to America to study English – especially because they were American citizens. The two sisters felt that there may be more opportunities for them in the United States. Because their father had passed away, the opportunity to attend college or obtaining decent employment was slim. In 1926, Yoshiko and her sister, Kimiko, sailed for Los Angeles. Yoshiko attended Central Jr. High School, Roosevelt High School and Woodbury Business College. She and her sister also received sewing lessons from their Aunt Tatsu who was a sewing teacher. See Illustration III

Yaeko Shibuya graduated #1 from Ochanomizu Daigaku where she received a scholarship. She received an offer to teach at Joshi Gakushuin in Tokyo – a prestigious girls’ school where the Imperial family attends. The school was only for nobility until 1947 when it was opened to commoners as well.

In 1928 Kimiko returned to Nagaoka to live with her mother, Souko Shibuya, who lived in Nagaoka by herself after the death of her father in law, Asakichi Shibuya. Souko and Kimiko decided to move to Tokyo to live. They lived near their friend,

4 Mrs. Yaeko Nitta. Mrs. Nitta told Souko to buy a property in Shimotakaido in Tokyo using the money left to her by Asakichi Shibuya.

Illustration III – Top row – Kimiko Shibuya, Yoshiko Shibuya Bottom row - Tatsu Shibuya Inose, Eikichi Inose

In 1929, Yoshiko returned to Japan with her aunt and uncle, Tatsu and Eikichi Inose. The world economy was depressed with few employment opportunities in Los Angeles. She lived with her aunt and uncle in Tokyo in Asagawa (house still stands). In Japan, Yoshiko worked as an English typist and secretary at the Dai

5 Nippon Kari Kabushiki Kaisha (German-French joint management potash fertilizer and import company) located at Marunouchi, Tokyo. Illustration IV Yoshiko Shibuya in her twenties.

Illustration IV - Yoshiko Shibuya

In 1930, the Shimotakaido house was built by Yoshiko’s mother. Four people lived there and even though the economy was depressed, Souko Shibuya taught koto, Kimiko Shibuya taught sewing, Yoshiko Shibuya worked in Tokyo and Yaeko Shibuya taught school. Life was good.

6 Yoshiko married Seijiro Inose in Japan on September 16, 1932 – illustration IV - and returned to Los Angeles. Before marrying, Yoshiko and Seijiro were acquainted with each other at family gatherings because they were related by marriage. Yoshiko’s aunt was married to Seijiro’s uncle and they all lived in Los Angeles at the same time between 1926 and 1929. On their honeymoon, the picture shows the couple in western clothing – very unusual for the time – illustration V.

Illustration IV - Seijiro Inose and Yoshiko Shibuya September 16, 1932

7 Illustration V - Honeymoon picture of Seijiro and Yoshiko Inose, September 1932. (Ken) Kenichi was born in Los Angeles on September 18, 1933 and (Rose) Kiyoko was born on March 8, 1935. While Yoshiko was busy raising children, Seijiro Inose joined as partner to Masaji Takeuchi in manufacturing and sales of insecticides to a company under the name of Union Chemical Products Company in Los Angeles. On March 16, 1939, (Helen) Hiroko was born in Los Angeles.

8 When World War II started, Executive Order 9066 forced the family to first relocate to the Santa Anita Assembly Center, then to the Rohwer Internment Camp in Rohwer, Arkansas. The day the war ended, August 14, 1945, the family relocated to New Orleans, Louisiana. The weather in New Orleans was not agreeable for Kiyoko and the family moved back to Los Angeles since California was reopened for Japanese families.

In 1945 after moving back to Los Angeles, the family lived at the Evergreen Baptist Church Hostel, then an apartment in Los Angeles. In 1946, Seijiro and Yoshiko moved the family to Gardena – 1615 W. 135th St. – a one-acre property. There was a home on the property where the family lived. Lily Yuriko was born on July 29, 1946.

The property on 135th St. was eventually made into a wholesale nursery and the name K & Y Nursery (K for Ken and Y for Yoshiko) was given to the business.

The business thrived and needed to expand, so in 1958, the nursery moved to 16325 S. Avalon Blvd, Gardena – 7 acres. Yoshiko and Seijiro built a new home on the Avalon Blvd. property. The architect of the house was Tom Makino – a long-time family friend from before the war.

During the postwar period, Yoshiko and Seijiro Inose sent over 200 packages to relatives in Japan. Every month, 6 packages of essentials – flour, sugar, and other food essentials and crepe paper by bulk were sent to Japan. The crepe paper was made into flowers that the families made and sold to provide income.

Yoshiko was an excellent seamstress and made clothes for herself and her three daughters. In camp, Yoshiko made 2 coats for Kiyoko and Hiroko and won first place in a sewing contest. Kiyoko and Hiroko modeled the coats on stage. She made all the prom dresses for the girls and wedding gowns for Kiyoko and Hiroko. She continued to sew into advanced age even though she had trouble threading the sewing machine because of gout in her fingers. All her garments would be finished at professional level.

Illustration – VI – Dress made for Kiyoko by Yoshiko Inose 9 Illustration VI – Kiyoko wearing dress made by Yoshiko Inose In 1964, Yoshiko began Omote Senke tea ceremony lessons with Mrs. Sohwa Hitomi as her teacher. Mrs. Hitomi had an ochashitsu (Japanese tea room) in her apartment building on Santee Street in Los Angeles. In 1964 when Yuriko started at USC, Seijiro would drive Yoshiko to Mrs. Hitomi’s apartment on Friday afternoon and drive home. Yuriko would meet Yoshiko there and take lessons also. Then the two would drive home together after the lessons. This is how the tea ceremony lessons for Yoshiko began.

In 1967, the Omote Senke Shinwakai of Los Angeles was formed. This was a group of people involved in Omote Senke tea ceremony. A special banquet was held in celebration of the formation of this group. The head master of Japan – Iemoto – sent his and and new bride to participate in this celebration – which was a great honor for the Shinwakai. Yoshiko served as treasurer, corresponding secretary and vice president of this association

10 In 1969, the Omote Senke Domonkai Western Region (including all of Southern California, Denver, New York, and Canada) was formed. Yoshiko was part of the group of Shinwakai members who helped Dr. Yoriyuki Kikuchi create this new larger association. In 1970, Omote Senke Domonkai Southern Califorina Region was officially named and formed. Since 1970 to 1998, Yoshiko held the following positions: assistant treasurer, corresponding secretary, secretary, vice-president and advisor.

During her involvement with the Shinwakai and Domonkai, Yoshiko participated in numerous tea ceremony demonstrations for the public – Nisei Week, Buddhist Federation Hanamatsuri, County Museum of Art, various colleges and universities – USC, UC Irvine, Cal State LA and Northridge, LACC, Cal Poly Pomona, major department stores, Crenshaw Square, Ventura Japan Day, Torrance Bunka-Sai, Knott’s Berry Farm, Lion Country Safari, Los Angeles EXPO and may others. Yoshiko began teaching tea ceremory in 1979 and was awarded the title of Omote Senke Kyoju (highest level of teaching) in 1991. She dedicated her life to learning and teaching ocha (tea).

Yoshiko Inose’s ocha group – Keiwakai January 26, 2012.

11 Between 1962 and 1972, Yoshiko and Seijiro became grandparents 11 times. Every New Years Day – Yoshiko would make all her daughters and daughter in law eat kazuno-ko. After each of her children had a child – she quit making everyone eat the kazuno-ko. Birthday parties were with all members of the family – and with 3 sets of grandchildren all under 5 in the beginning, she was probably exhausted – although she never complained. Illustration VI.

Illustration VI – Yoshiko and Seijiro Inose and family - 1990

Back row - David Nakatani, Sharon Nakatani, Bryan Yoshiyama, Kathy Yoshiyama, Ray Yoshiyama, Karen Yoshiyama, Judy Inose, Don Inose, Steve Sakamoto, Diane Sakamoto, Masa Sakamoto, Jeffery Sakamoto

Front row – Cynthia Nakatani, Lily Yuriko Nakatani, Rose Kiyoko Yoshiyama, Yoshiko Inose, Seijiro Inose, Kenichi Inose, Kay Kayoko Inose, Helen Hiroko Sakamoto

12 The next generation produced 16 great grandchildren for Yoshiko Inose - Illustration VII.

Illustration VII - picture of Yoshiko Inose’s 16 great -grandchildren 2012 Back row – Austin Bunuan, Thomas Thomsen, Krislyn Jobes, Tyson Sakamoto, Derek Handa, Anthony Handa, Casey Kuramoto, Corey Kuramoto, Brandon Bunuan Front row – Jonathan (Jack) Jobes, Jessica Sakamoto, Hanne Thomsen, Evelyn Goddard, Helena Goddard, Lauren Yoshiyama, Lindsey Yoshiyama

Every December the family would gather and do mochitsuki. In the beginning at the nursery in Gardena – in the 1950’s, a real usu (mortar) and kine (wooden mallet) were used. Seijiro made the usu out of concrete. He formed the usu in a bucket. Seijiro ordered a kine made out of persimmon wood from Ibaraki, Japan. Seijiro would turn the mohi in the usu while Ken pounded with the kine. Over the years, the usu and kine were replaced with machines that would turn the rice into

13 mochi. The family got together every year at Yoshiko’s house in mid-December to make mochi until 2012 , the year before her death. In 2013, the family got together for the last time as a whole family to make mochi in honor of Yoshiko and Seijiro Inose. Illustration VIII – Mochitsuki 2011.

Illustration VIII – Mochitsuki at Yoshiko Inose’s home December 2011.

In 1987 Yoshiko was selected as one of the Mothers of the year from the Southern California Japanese Women’s Society (of which she is an advisor). In 1997 Yoshiko was selected as Nisei Week Pioneer and rode in the Nisei Week parade. When the Rafu Shimpo reached 100 years – Yoshiko was honored by Chris Komai, the owner and editor at the time. On her 100th birthday, she was visited and interviewed by

14 the Japanese Counsel General of Los Angeles and her interview was recorded by the Counsel General’s office. Illustration VIII – Yoshiko Inose at age 103

Illustration VIII - Yoshiko Inose – age 103 – January 2012.

Yoshiko

15 Yoshiko Inose died on June 13, 2013 – 3 months before her 105th birthday. Two days before her death she conducted tea ceremony lessons in her home. She is interred at Green Hills Cemetery in Palos Verdes, California.