Little Remains - Steve Tabor
Little Remains
Steve Tabor
Driving over the Vincent Thomas bridge the historical marker for the “Japanese Fishing Village” is easily overlooked. I finally decided to take the time to follow the signs along Ferry Street to Terminal Island Way that lead to the site of the once-thriving Fishing Village along Seaside Avenue. Although the Japanese Fishing Village Memorial can be found near of the entrance of the Terminal Island Federal Correction Institute and the United States Coast Guard Facility, there are no other buildings or remnants of the Village that indicate there was once a community of nearly 3,000 Japanese immigrants, Issei, and their Japanese-American children, Nisei.
The story the immigrant Japanese fishermen in San Pedro begins prior to 1900. Before fishing for sardines and tuna, they fished the coastline for abalone, however anti-Japanese sentiment and actions by other fishermen forced them to return fishing for tuna and sardines. It so happened that canneries thought canning tuna would be a lucrative endeavor and they quickly recruited the Japanese fishermen because of their expertise in catching vast numbers of tuna using a robust bamboo fishing pole attached to a single line and a nonbarbed hook or their netting skills to catch sardines. Soon many of these Japanese fishermen found themselves under contracts with the canneries to supply them with their catches.
Though the first cannery was constructed in 1903, Fish Harbor was not constructed until 1915. Fish Harbor was constructed between Tuna Street and Seaside Avenue to separate the fishing harbor from the shipping channel and as protection from strong waves. By 1918, the canneries were fully established along the north end of Fish Harbor. Many of the fishermen and their wives, many of whom worked in the canneries, were interested in living close to their fishing boats and canneries. Although a leading labor contractor from Wakayama recruited many of the fishermen, additional fishermen from the Shizuoka, Mie and other regions of Japan found their fishing skills in high demand and immigrated to the San Pedro area. In short time, the Japanese Fishing Village, Furusato, was established.
Furusato’s literal translation means “old village”, but its informal translation is “native place” or “home sweet home”. Former residents indicate that the unpleasant smell of the canneries constantly carried across the harbor into the village. The fishermen in the village are credited with creating a dialect that became known as “Terminal Island Lingo”. The “Lingo” integrated words from English and Japanese as a means to quickly accomplish fishing tasks.
Furusato’s commercial area was along Tuna Street. The area featured a Shinto Shrine, Buddhist temples, a grocery store, the Huma Company and Hashimoto Hardware Store, a bank, a beauty parlor, a billiard parlor, an udon shop, Mio’s Cafe and Fishermen’s Association Hall. The Hall was used to host community activities as well as conduct marital arts classes in judo and kendo.
Approximately, 300 residences were built by the canneries along Seaside Avenue. The close proximity of the houses to one another meant that families became aware of the issues and activities of the other families in the community. A writer for the Los Angeles Times who visited the community described the residential area as follows:
“These people live the most ugly type of American houses. Long rows of frame cottages with each house a few feet from its neighbor and with rows very close together comprise the residence section of the village. Each cottage is exactly the same size, shape and color as all of the others - the kinds of homes which large corporations provide for their employees in wholesale lots.”
Due to the demands of the fishing industry, the fishermen were out to sea for several weeks or months at a time. When they returned home, they would often stretch their nets along the streets for mending. Sometimes the male children would assist them.
Many of the women in the village worked in the canneries. Their work hours greatly depended upon the size of each catch. Often the women worked long hours. This meant the children sometimes slept in the cardboard boxes at the canneries. Other children were left on their own or left under the supervision of older women or neighbors. To earn additional monies, the women would dry salted fished on wire racks suspended above the roofs of their houses from tall poles.
The residents of Furusato carried on many Japanese traditions and celebrated American holidays. On Boys’ Day the traditional cloth carp wind ornaments were flown throughout the village and beneath the Unite States flag. On Girls’ Day, the girls would dress in kimonos and display their dressed dolls. One account, indicates that all of the girls in the elementary school wore kimonos to school, including the daughter of Russian immigrants. American sports such, as baseball and basketball, were played by men and boys in the community.
Families would visit Brighton Beach on the west end of Terminal Island to relax and spend time together. The beach featured the remains of Victorian era houses that once decorated the shoreline. These houses were once homes of a large artist colony and served as a retreat for other Angelinos.
Children attended elementary school at East San Pedro School. The school was later named after Mildred O’Barr Wulizer, a former teacher at the school, after she passed away. Older children attended San Pedro High School utilizing the ferry service to commute to and from the island.
The Beginning of the End
With relations between Japan and the United States becoming more strained, two investigators with the House of Un-American Activities filed a report in May 1941 that would prove to have a huge impact on the small community. The report indicated that the 250 fishing vessels could be converted in ‘naval craft’ and become a security menace. Also, they falsely reported that ‘one thousand Japanese were trained pilots and familiar with the harbor and coastline.’
On December 8, 1941, the day following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Terminal Island shops and cafes owned by Japanese residents were closed, never to be reopened, by the military. Shortly after, all non-native Japanese fishermen and community leaders were taken into custody by federal officials. Some of the men were released, but most were detained, not reunited with their families until their families reached the established detention centers. Many of the women and children living in Furusato were left in emotional and financial straits.
February 1942 proved particularly difficult for the residents of Furusato. On February 2nd, additional Japanese fishermen were taken into custody and detained. On February 19th, President Franklin Roosevelt, at the urging of some of his military advisors, signed Executive Order 9066 which allowed the Secretary of War or designated Military Commanders to created military areas from which any or all residents could be excluded. Issuing this Order allowed for the unilateral removal of non-native Japanese and Japanese Americans from the West Coast of the United States.
During this time, there were several rumors involving the anti-American actions of the Japanese residents on the West Coast. One accusation was that the poles the women used to suspend the wire racks above their houses were being used as radio antennas to alert the Imperial Japanese. On February 25, 1942, United States military officials informed all Japanese and non-Japanese residents of Terminal Island that they had 48 hours to vacate the island. However, they did not provide any alternative housing options. Residents attempted to pack up whatever items they could, destroyed some of their possessions as a matter of principle or were forced to sell others to businessman and other Angelinos at a fraction of their value. On February 27th, all residents left Terminal Island forced to find housing with fellow Japanese or with the assistance of charitable organizations.
Following the departure of the residents, Furusato was stripped of anything of value. The fishing boats were taken by the military, stolen or destroyed. Eventually, most of the structures that made Furusato “home sweet home” for nearly residents 3,000 were demolished by military officials. By April 1942, the last Japanese on the West Coast were in route to internment camps. Most of the Furusato residents were sent to the Manzanar Detention Center in California’s Owens Valley.
After their release from the internment camps at the conclusion of the war, the internees return to their communities attempting to start their lives again. Many families returned with only possessions they were allowed to take to the internment camp. Several of the former residents of Furusato returned home to find little trace of their fishing village. The canneries that once employed the women of Furusato and contracted with the fishermen, were still operating. Some of the returnees were employed by the canneries. Other returnees attempted to begin life again in other parts of Southern California or other parts of the United States.
Keeping the Memory Alive
In 1971, the Terminal Islanders Club was established by the children of Furusato to keep the memories of their ancestors and Furusato alive. In addition to annual gatherings, the organization created the “Japanese Fishing Village Memorial” in 2002.
The memorial is encircled by several of informational signs with photographs presenting images of life at Furusato. The metal panels on the east side of the memorial recognize a number of the donors and others who were instrumental in creating the memorial. The memorial features a bronze statue of two Japanese fisherman working their nets. One fisherman has his net in hand, the other is performing repairs. At the north end of the memorial is a clear plexiglass photographic mural of Fish Harbor. Looking north at the mural, you can see the fishing boats tied up to the piers in front of the canneries ready to receive their catch. On the left side of the mural is a Haiku poem written in English and Japanese honoring the parents of Furusato and the cherished memories of their village. At the top of the Japanese arch is a sign with Kanji characters symbolizing Furusato, “Home Sweet Home.” In 2018, the Terminal Islanders placed a time capsule under the fishermen statue that will be opened on February 27, 2042.
Sources:
Jennifer Yutani Alquijay
June Miyamoto Donovan, Terminal Islanders
“Terminal Island’s lost village” by Sam Gnerre
“Off the coast of San Pedro, a Japanese community erased” by Hadley Meares CurbedLA March 30, 2018
“Japanese-American History at Terminal Island” Los Angeles Conservancy
Steve Tabor Bio
This South Bay native’s photographic journey began after receiving his first 35 mm film camera upon earning his Bachelor of Arts degree. Steve began with photographing coastal landscapes and marine life. As a classroom teacher he used photography to share the world and his experiences with his students. Steve has expanded his photographic talents to include portraits and group photography, special event photography as well as live performance and athletics. Steve serves as a volunteer ranger for the Catalina Island Conservancy and uses this opportunity to document the flora and fauna of the island’s interior as well as photograph special events and activities.
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