Tsunejiro and Mary Tsukio Udo of San Francisco - Pre-War Period
My maternal grandparents, Tsunejiro and Mary Tsukio Udo, were born in Japan and emigrated to the United States to work. Tsunejiro was born on May 11, 1889 and arrived in the United States in 1906. Mary Tsukio Mimori was born in Yamaga in Kumamoto Ken and arrived in the United States on May 10,1915. From 1915 to 1921 they lived at 216 North E Street in San Mateo. The Udo family, including their 2 American-born daughters, left for Japan on August 1921 to see my grandfather's ailing mother. The parents returned the following year on February 15, 1922, leaving the two daughters, Etsuko and Yukiko in the care of her family.
Yoshiko, their youngest daughter was born the following year on October 19, 1923 in the United States. Yoshiko was an all-American girl, both in manner and thought. The year I went to Japan to study, Yuki, my mother, wrote me letters in Japanese. Yoshiko wrote me letters in English and sent me a box of Kraft macaroni and cheese, just in case I missed American food. Tsunejiro first lived with a Caucasian family in San Francisco, going to school and working as a "school boy." He said that he was treated as part of the family. In 1910 he moved to San Mateo and worked as a gardener and a butler, most of the time at "the Coleman.", which might be a reference to the Coleman Mansion in Menlo Park. In 1923, having saved enough money, the Udo family opened the Stanyan Cleaners located at 772 Stanyan Street. By the time I was knew them as "City Bachan" and "City Jiichan", they were running a small boarding house/hotel on Laguna Street in San Francisco. Before the war, the Udo family traveled to Southern California to visit friends, visited the World's Fair at Treasure Island in 1939, and, of course, frequently visited Golden Gate Park which is located just across the street from the dry cleaners. In September 1941, the three sisters attended a benefit for the USO at the Yonemoto Nursery in Sunnyvale. Yuki was working as a typist at the Yokohama Species Bank in San Francisco. There were probably difficulties being first-generation Japanese in California. My grandparents were not allowed to become United States citizens or own property. But, all in all, life seemed to be good and getting better. Then Pearl Harbor happened. Their lives were disrupted. My grandfather was taken away by the U.S. Government. His story is told in a separate page. Udo Family photographs - Pre-War Period
|
.Pre-War trip to the Beach.
The dresses worn by the sisters are almost identical and are probably made by one of the Udo women. Notice the car.
The dresses worn by the sisters are almost identical and are probably made by one of the Udo women. Notice the car.
Pre-War trip to Southern California, including Santa Barbara & Los Angeles's Olvera Street
A Trip to the World's Fair at Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay, 1939-1940
|
Memorable Events
Etsuko, the eldest daughter, married first. She and Robert Kai, her husband, had a grand wedding with friends and relatives in attendance. Etsuko have an elaborate wedding gown. The marriage took place in early 1941, before Pearl Harbor. |
Yukiko, my mother, married on March 7, 1942. It was after Pearl Harbor. There was no time to plan an elaborate wedding. My mother wore a simple suit and a hat. She did have an orchard corsage. Yoshiko graduated from high school in June of 1941.
|
Please go to the Heart Mountain section to learn more about the Udo family during war time.
Notes: The dates of the stays in Japan and home addresses were found among Fred Yonemoto's archive. He must have compiled the information in preparation for relocation to Heart Mountain. Tsukio Mary Udo's last address shown was 2-63-23. Camp Santa Anita, the next stall from her daughter, Yukiko.
Dates:
Tsunejiro Udo born May 11, 1889 in Japan, died June 1, 1968, age 79
Mary T. Udo born December 11, 1896 in Japan, died March 6, 1965, age 68
Etsuko Kai born February 16, 1916 in San Mateo, California, died March 1978, age 62
Yukiko Yonemoto born November 2, 1917 in San Mateo, California died October 28, 2001, age 84
Yoshiko Umemoto born October 19, 1923 in San Francisco, died June 28, 1996, age 73
Dates:
Tsunejiro Udo born May 11, 1889 in Japan, died June 1, 1968, age 79
Mary T. Udo born December 11, 1896 in Japan, died March 6, 1965, age 68
Etsuko Kai born February 16, 1916 in San Mateo, California, died March 1978, age 62
Yukiko Yonemoto born November 2, 1917 in San Mateo, California died October 28, 2001, age 84
Yoshiko Umemoto born October 19, 1923 in San Francisco, died June 28, 1996, age 73