Juichi Fujimori: 1879-1957

Stories & Memories

Juichi’s motivation and drive are shown throughout his life.  He left his home at 22 to venture into a new land—America.  He worked hard to learn a new language and save money to bring his wife and two daughters, Kiyome (Sakakura) and Shinko (Iguichi), to the USA.  Hae Tsuda Fujimori had waited ten years in Japan with Juichi's parents while he was in the US.  They tried to marry her off because, during this time, there was minimal communication with Juichi.   

They had four more children in America, worked at the Mt. King Mining camp in Mariposa, saved enough money to move to Stockton, farmed, and opened Golden Castle Grocery Store and a gas station.  Juichi was an active member of the Stockton Buddhist church.  Chris Kusaba remembers seeing pictures of picnics—her grandfather always wore a suit and tie!

 When the war broke out, the FBI took Juichi and other church leaders away.  His son Ken said his father had the foresight to sign his name on papers to slip to Ken when he was transferred from the SF prison to Bismark, ND.  This helped his family deal with all the properties (though they were under the sons' names, as Juichi could not own anything as a Japanese citizen).  Nevertheless, he lost a lot of property—Bacon Island in particular.  

In the Rohwer, Arkansas relocation camp, Juichi again took a leadership role in the food and meal preparations.  However, after the war, health issues started to take their toll.  He loved to drink Pepsi, but alas, this was before the Pepsi Free/Zero was developed; Juichi became diabetic.  

Chris remembers playing doctor for her grandparents because they seemed bedridden in the Stockton house. 

Juichi's 60th year Memorial Service in 2017