SAKAKURA

All families are as branches of a tree. We grow in different directions, but our roots remain the same.  

Juichi and Hae Fujimori's second oldest daughter Bessie Kiyome married Kenji Sakakura (whom the Sansei Generation only knew as Mr. Sakakura). Their three sons were Arthur Yoshikazu who married Takeko, Dave Hideyaki who married Emi, and Bill Norio who married Yukiko. Yoshikazu's son is Yoritaka. Norio's children are Lainie, Derek, and Greg. Lainie's children are Avelina and Isabelle. 

Social Links to Lainie, Alex, Avelina, Isabella, Derek, Greg                                                                                                                                    Link to SANCHEZ 

Kenji and Kiyome, circa late 1920s

Point of needed forgiveness: The California Fujimori family did not attend Bessie's funeral in 1946 in Cambridge, where Yoshikazu was at school at MIT. Many of the family were still in the Relocation Camps. Yoshikazu's family had had special permission to leave because of his matriculation to MIT. Jean Takako was 27 years old and had just given birth to Christina in the Rohwer Camp itself. Remember that the Japanese had been transported to Camps largely by train - and I'm not sure if there was even seating available. Jean felt tremendous guilt over the pain that Kenji suffered and hallucinated over this until her own death 58 years later. She wept when Kenji told her about this terrible event in 1960, particularly when Kenji presented her with Bessie's katami.