I was born in Heart Mountain, Wyoming, which was neither my mother's home nor my father's home. It was a place that my parents and their relatives and friends were sent by the United States Government after it declared war on Japan. My parents were among the 120,000 Americans of Japanese descent, both citizen and non-citizen, moved from their homes on the West Coast to one of 10 relocations camps in the interior of the country. Heart Mountain was one of the camps.
In this website, I want to tell my family's story. I want to document their lives and post interesting photos. I want to keep my parents' memory alive. I am Kazuyo Yonemoto, better known as Kachan to my family or Kay Yonemoto to non-family.
In this website, I want to tell my family's story. I want to document their lives and post interesting photos. I want to keep my parents' memory alive. I am Kazuyo Yonemoto, better known as Kachan to my family or Kay Yonemoto to non-family.
Chapter One - Photo Biographies of Fred and Yuki yonemoto and their Families
My parents were both born in California to parents who came from Japan. Both were sent to Japan at a young age to live with family. Learn about their lives and the lives of their parents. See photos of my parents and the Udo and Yonemoto families from the Yonemoto Family Collection. (read more)
Chapter two - Before 1942
Before the war, my father owned a carnation nursery in Sunnyvale, California with his family. My father enjoyed his American life, playing golf and tennis, going to the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles, and traveling around the state in his own car. Before she was married, my mother lived in San Francisco and worked in a bank as a typist. She and her sisters dressed stylishly, went to the 1939 World's Fair on Treasure Island, and generally led a peaceful life.
Read about the founding of the family nursery, an USO benefit in 1941, fishing in Half Moon Bay, and the establishment of an elegant Japanese restaurant. Learn about the city of Sunnyvale and look at aerial photos from the 1930's. (read more)
Read about the founding of the family nursery, an USO benefit in 1941, fishing in Half Moon Bay, and the establishment of an elegant Japanese restaurant. Learn about the city of Sunnyvale and look at aerial photos from the 1930's. (read more)
Chapter three - Heart Mountain 1942-1945
My parents married in early 1942, just before evacuation was ordered. They had to marry quickly (no big wedding) to ensure that they were sent to the same relocation camp. I was born at Heart Mountain, a camp baby.
I knew I was born in Heart Mountain, but knew little about that time. My parents rarely talked about it, except to say that so-and-so was a friend from Heart Mountain. I am just beginning to learn more about that time. (read more about their lives in Heart Mountain)
I knew I was born in Heart Mountain, but knew little about that time. My parents rarely talked about it, except to say that so-and-so was a friend from Heart Mountain. I am just beginning to learn more about that time. (read more about their lives in Heart Mountain)
Chapter four - Back Home - Sunnyvale
After the evacuation orders were lifted, my parents and I (age 2-1/2) returned to Sunnyvale and the carnation nursery, which thankfully was cared for during my father's absence. Over the years, our family grew. I was joined by a sister and 4 brothers. We, six kids, grew up at the nursery. We had over 15 acres as our backyard. We went to public schools and attended college.. We lived a typical American life. (read more about this period)