Yukiko Udo Yonemoto
Early years - 1917 to 1941
Yukiko, my mother, was born to Tsunejiro and Mary Tsukio Udo on November 2, 1917 in San Mateo, California. Her parents were born in Japan and were working as housekeepers in San Mateo at that time. Yuki left for Yamaga, Kumamoto-ken, Japan in August 1921 with Etsuko, her older sister, and her parents. Her parents returned the next year on February 1922, leaving their 2 daughters in Japan in the care of the Mimori family, relatives of her mother. There they received a Japanese education, both graduating from high school. Both could speak Japanese fluently. And I know my mother could write Japanese. Her handwriting was beautiful. Both sisters spoke and wrote English well.
Yuki finally returned to San Francisco on May 30,1934. By the time she returned, there was a younger sister, Yoshiko, who was born in October of 1923. After she returned to the United States, she attended 2 years of high school in San Francisco and also attended a sewing school for 6 months.
Yuki finally returned to San Francisco on May 30,1934. By the time she returned, there was a younger sister, Yoshiko, who was born in October of 1923. After she returned to the United States, she attended 2 years of high school in San Francisco and also attended a sewing school for 6 months.
Yuki worked as a typist at the Yokohama Species Bank in San Francisco from January 16, 1937 to December 8, 1941. I believe she used a Japanese typewriter in her job, one which had over 2,000 different kanji characters to choose from. Only one time do I remember my father speak of my mother in a personal way. He wondered why would she be interested in him, just a nurseryman, when at her job at the bank she met and worked with such important people.
By 1941 my parents, Yuki Udo and Fred T. Yonemoto, were acquainted. The Udo sisters attended the USO benefit held at the Yonemoto Nursery in Sunnyvale in September of 1941.
Pearl Harbor happened on December 7, 1941. Both my grandfathers were taken away by the United States government, her father on December 8, 1941 and Fred's father on February 13, 1942. Fearing that they might be separated, Yuki and Fred were married March 7, 1942 in San Francisco. There was no fancy wedding and no beautiful wedding gown. Fred worked hard to help Yuki's mother and younger sister who were left alone in San Francisco. He had to get special permission to travel over 50 miles to San Francisco to bring the two women to Sunnyvale so they all could be evacuated together. Etsuko, the oldest daughter, was already married and had her husband, Robert Kai, to care for her.
The Yonemoto family and the Udo family were evacuated to Heart Mountain, Wyoming. Later my two grandfathers were allowed to join their families in Heart Mountain.
The Yonemoto family and the Udo family were evacuated to Heart Mountain, Wyoming. Later my two grandfathers were allowed to join their families in Heart Mountain.
In September of 1945 my family returned to Sunnyvale and the nursery. My real memories of my mother start in Sunnyvale.
Yuki and Fred had five more children after their return to Sunnyvale, a daughter, Katherine Sachiko, followed by four sons, Fred Kikyoshi (known as Kiki), David, Arthur, and Leslie.
Yuki and Fred had five more children after their return to Sunnyvale, a daughter, Katherine Sachiko, followed by four sons, Fred Kikyoshi (known as Kiki), David, Arthur, and Leslie.
Yuki was an amazing woman, raising 6 children and working at the nursery all day. She had energy! In the morning she would see that her children got to school. Then she would take her place in the bunching room, grading and bunching the carnations. She would stop to prepare lunch, maybe start a load of wash, and then return to work. In the afternoon she might stop for a few moments to start dinner and return to work. Dinner was quite a production since there was a minimum of 9 people at the dinner table - 2 parents, 6 children, 1 grandmother, and a cousin or 2 who were living with us.
Yuki was a caring mother, but, unlike modern mothers, she did not read us bedtime stories or tell us to do homework. She did not teach us the alphabet, but we all went to college.
Yuki was a caring mother, but, unlike modern mothers, she did not read us bedtime stories or tell us to do homework. She did not teach us the alphabet, but we all went to college.
Yukiko as a cook.
Yuki was a wonderful cook, only held back in her creativity by her family. Once after she attended a Chinese cooking class, she cooked chow mein. At dinner there were male-dominated questions. What is that? How come it isn't your usual chow mein? She never cooked anything she learned at that class again. Once she decided to stud the outside of a leg of lamb with slivers of garlic. The male voices were again loud. What is that smell? Yuck! Again she had to go back to her old recipe.
She was also hampered by the "fish man." Three times a week, a different "fish man" would come by in a small van with fish on ice. He would sell his fish and other food items to Mom and other workers, some of whom used the nursery refrigerator to store their purchases until the end of work day. Yuki complained that three fish men were too much, but she felt obligated to buy something from each one each time.
Yuki was a wonderful cook, only held back in her creativity by her family. Once after she attended a Chinese cooking class, she cooked chow mein. At dinner there were male-dominated questions. What is that? How come it isn't your usual chow mein? She never cooked anything she learned at that class again. Once she decided to stud the outside of a leg of lamb with slivers of garlic. The male voices were again loud. What is that smell? Yuck! Again she had to go back to her old recipe.
She was also hampered by the "fish man." Three times a week, a different "fish man" would come by in a small van with fish on ice. He would sell his fish and other food items to Mom and other workers, some of whom used the nursery refrigerator to store their purchases until the end of work day. Yuki complained that three fish men were too much, but she felt obligated to buy something from each one each time.
Yuki was known for her American dishes, such as beef stew seasoned with allspice, corned beef, spare ribs, and meat loaf with hard boiled eggs in the center. She also had her Chinese dishes, such as chow mein with crispy noodles, pakkai (Japanese version of sweet & sour pork), sweet & sour ribs, and various stir-fried vegetable dishes. And of course, she cooked Japanese dishes. She made tempura, sukiyaki, cold noodles, chicken teriyaki, potato croquettes, inari sushi, futomaki sushi, and all the traditional New Year's dishes. Her chicken teriyaki was specially popular at my Brownie Troop pot-lucks. The chicken teriyaki was the first to go, because most of the other dishes were casseroles. Unlike the other Brownies, I got excited by the tamale pie and mac and cheese.
Everything was from scratch. The only shortcut she used was the packaged spaghetti seasoning for her spaghetti sauce. She even made home-made strawberry jam.
Everything was from scratch. The only shortcut she used was the packaged spaghetti seasoning for her spaghetti sauce. She even made home-made strawberry jam.
Yukiko as a seamstress.
Yuki was an excellent seamstress, a skill she and Etsuko, her older sister, learned from their mother and sewing school. My sister and I were dressed almost exclusively with "Creations by Yuki", often in matching dresses. Every Easter we got a new dress and a little hat, which was a little strange since the family was Buddhist and we didn't have an Easter service to attend. The dresses were lovely and appreciated. But the hats were worn only once when we got our picture taken. One November, a huge bolt of bright blue velveteen fabric appeared in the house. That Christmas all the boys in the extended family (4 sons and 6 nephews) got matching collared and buttoned shirts.
Yuki was an excellent seamstress, a skill she and Etsuko, her older sister, learned from their mother and sewing school. My sister and I were dressed almost exclusively with "Creations by Yuki", often in matching dresses. Every Easter we got a new dress and a little hat, which was a little strange since the family was Buddhist and we didn't have an Easter service to attend. The dresses were lovely and appreciated. But the hats were worn only once when we got our picture taken. One November, a huge bolt of bright blue velveteen fabric appeared in the house. That Christmas all the boys in the extended family (4 sons and 6 nephews) got matching collared and buttoned shirts.
An adjunct skill Yuki possessed was ironing, a skill she must have learned at the Udo family dry cleaners in San Francisco.. She had a iron mangle which was kept in the corner of the kitchen. Sheets were iron in minutes and shirts took a few minutes more. She believed in starch. My gym shorts could stand up on its own.
After the nursery was sold, Yuki turned professional, partially to keep busy but mostly for the extra money. She found a job with Marion Clayden, a boutique designer. She would bring home brown paper patterns and bolts of hand-dyed fabric to turn into expensive dresses and scarves at her sewing machine in Los Gatos. She also had private customers who would come to the house for alterations.
Yuki, outside of home
Yuki was not as active as my father, but she was a member of the Sunnyvale Soroptimist organization and am active member of the Mountain View Buddhist Temple, where she was a member of the Fujinkai, the women's organization. One year she was its president and went to a state wide conference in Monterey, California. She always helped at the annual MVBT Bazaar in July.
She was trained in the ikebana, the art of Japanese flower arranging. She was on the way to an ikebana demonstration or conference when she wore a kimono and had her picture taken in 1966. Click on this link to see more pictures of Yuki.
She did not travel much in 1950's and 1960's, but later, after the children were safely grown, my parents went to Europe, Australia, China, and Japan with their friends. Yuki also loved to gamble relishing trips to casinos in Reno, Tahoe, and, lastly, in San Bernardino.
Yuki was not as active as my father, but she was a member of the Sunnyvale Soroptimist organization and am active member of the Mountain View Buddhist Temple, where she was a member of the Fujinkai, the women's organization. One year she was its president and went to a state wide conference in Monterey, California. She always helped at the annual MVBT Bazaar in July.
She was trained in the ikebana, the art of Japanese flower arranging. She was on the way to an ikebana demonstration or conference when she wore a kimono and had her picture taken in 1966. Click on this link to see more pictures of Yuki.
She did not travel much in 1950's and 1960's, but later, after the children were safely grown, my parents went to Europe, Australia, China, and Japan with their friends. Yuki also loved to gamble relishing trips to casinos in Reno, Tahoe, and, lastly, in San Bernardino.
Sadly, not all of Yuki's energy was natural. She smoked and passed away on October 28, 2001 from lung cancer at her home in Los Gatos. Luckily she had a chance to see and hold all her grandsons.
Notes: The dates of Yuki's stays in Japan, her home addresses, and employment history were found among Fred's archive. He must have compiled the information in preparation for relocation to Heart Mountain.