by: Eddie Shiomi
My name is Fumi Jean Hisayasu Shiomi. I was born in the South Park section of Seattle, Washington on February 23, 1911. I am the third daughter of a large Japanese-American family.
My father, Kiichi Hisayasu, was born in Okayama, Japan in 1882. HIs original name was Kiichi Kuyama but was adopted into the Hisayasu family when he was young. He came to the United States in 1904, the same year the Russian-Japanese War started.
My mother, Chiyo, was born in Sendai, Japan in 1886. She married my father when she was seventeen years old and joined him in the U.S. in 1905. Her maiden name was Tokinobu.
This is a family photo taken in Seattle, Washington in 1917. I am one of nine siblings, four boys and five girls. Seven of us can be found in this photo.
Pictured here are eight of the nine sibling in 1927. Only my oldest sister Sakae is missing.
Here is the Hisayasu Pig farm in Seattle, WA.
June 26, 1932. Married Roy Y Shiomi. Seattle City Hall. Honeymoon in Victoria, Canada.
Saburo and Alice visit Japan.
September 1932. Left for Japan from Port of Seattle. Two weeks later Arrived in Yokohama Harbor. Greeted by Mrs. Nakagawa, daughters Hanako and Masako,...
...and son Hajime (12).
November 1932. Moved to Shinjuku, Tokyo
1934. Moved for 3 months to Osaka. Irene born Feb 17, 1935
Richard born in Tokyo, May 10, 1938.
May 1939. Sailed from Yokohama to Seattle. Business trip for Roy. 3 month trip.
There we were reunited with my parents, siblings, their spouses and children.
August 1939. Roy recalled by company. Family returns to Japan.
March 1941. Family moves to Dairen, Manchuria.
May 21, 1941. Cathy born in Manchuria.
July 10, 1945. Roy conscripted into the Japanese Army.
Roy in Tientsen until Dec 1945. Sasebo, Japan on Dec 31, 1945. May 1, 1946 in Yokohama, Japan.
April 1947, Fumi and kids depart for Japan.
October 1950, Fumi and kids board the USS General Gordon at Yokohama to San Francisco. Two week journey. Greeted by Frank and Yoneko Hisayasu and Sakae Kaneshige.
Drive with Frank and Yoneko to Spokane, WA.
July 7, 1950. Roy writes first letter to Senator Magnuson to US re-entry.
October 12, 1951. S 904 passes out of the Senate. Moves to the House of Representatives.
February 19, 1952. House approves S 904.
February 29, 1952. President Truman signs S904 into law as Private Law 462.
June 1952. Roy arrives in Spokane, WA and is reunited with his family.
August 1952. Family moves to Los Angeles.