Tamiko was born March 8, 1920 in a farmhouse in Watsonville, CA. Her mother, Take (Chi – tose) and father, Hamazo Sugimoto were from Yamaguchi-ken, Japan. Tamiko was a little over three years old when she, her 16 months old brother Kiraku (later known as ‘Chester’), and parents moved to Japan in May 1923. She grew up in Yanai village, Yamaguchi-ken. She was a student all the way through middle school (8th grade) and in her teen years learned to sew garments and learned other practical home-making arts.
Her father passed away in July 1936. Later that year, by way of family arrangements, Tamiko married Isamu Nishikawa, who was visiting his ancestral home in Yanai with his late father’s ashes. Their marriage was not registered in Japan. In early 1937, when they returned to U.S., they were married again in California. Upon arriving in San Francisco, Tamiko was sent to Angel Island to verify her birth certificate by the INS. At that time she had dual Japanese and U.S. citizenship, but she reaffirmed her American birthright by marriage to Isamu (later known as ‘Sam’), who had already renounced his Japanese citizenship during an earlier visit to Japan.
She and Sam first lived near Japan town in San Francisco where they started a family. Alfred Hirotoshi was born on April 23, 1938 and was followed by Yukio in December 6, 1939. Next, Thomas Nobumasa (my dad) was born on March 19, 1941. Sam was employed as a chef for wealthy families, while Tamiko did domestic work until Hiro was born. Her brother Chester, still in his teens, also lived with them.
In 1941, Chester, interested in agriculture, found a farm in the Salinas area with the help of his Sugimoto relatives. He convinced Tamiko and Sam to move the kids to the countryside of Hollister. Because Chester was still a minor, he needed Sam to be a co-signer for the lease. In November 1941, Tamiko, Sam, and the three boys moved from San Francisco onto the Hollister farm.
Because Pearl Harbor was bombed only a few weeks later, Sam never did co-sign the lease papers. But the landlord allowed the family to stay on the farm even after the signing of Executive Order 9066 on Feb. 19, 1942.
In May 1942 evacuation orders came for the Nishikawas and Uncle Chester to go to the Salinas assembly center. They were later interned at Poston, AZ where they arrived on July 4, 1942. They were assigned to Camp 1, Block 18, Barrack 2, Room A. Their family number was 30406. In a nearby barrack, Uncle Chester, still being single, was quartered with his Sugimoto cousins and aunt from Salinas.
In the barrack hospital room of the hot Poston desert, Tamiko’s last son, Katsuhito (or Kats) was born on February 27, 1944. It should be noted that the birthplace of Kats no longer exists.
Finally in the summer 1945, the family left Poston and returned to California. The family was lodged a few days at the San Jose Betsuin, which was set-up like a refugee shelter for camp returnees. Later they moved to Hunters Point Naval barracks in San Francisco where they lived several months and Hiro attended Cleveland Elementary School.
Meanwhile, Sam contacted Mr. Fujimoto, an old family friend in Gilroy, who helped him locate a Chinese restaurant business. By cashing his life insurance Sam raised the money to buy Pacific Café in Gilroy
Tamiko was the head waitress and cashier at Pacific Café, while Sam was the head chef. The boys attended public schools and as they got older helped out bussing tables in the restaurant. The family lived in quarters behind the restaurant, which became a hang-out for the Nikkei community.
By 1957, Sam had decided that the 24/7 demands of a ‘mom and pop’ restaurant was too much to handle. So he and Tamiko sold the restaurant and moved the family to Santa Clara. By then, Hiro was at U.C. Berkeley and Yukio was signing up with the U.S. Army. Tom and Kats were transferred to high school in Santa Clara. Sam then began a long time employment as a chef with Sakura Gardens in Mt. View.
Soon after, Tamiko began a long-time working relationship with the Zollezzi family in the San Jose Rose Gardens area. First she was a domestic housekeeper for the elders Peter and Irene, then with Fred and Corlista (or Connie) and their four children. She saw them grow up from infancy and even after Tamiko’s retirement, remained in contact with the youngest, Mary Ann.
In the early 60’s, Tamiko did retail clerical work at Import Plus in Santa Clara for T.C. Chao, an entrepreneur in Oriental imported furniture business. Mr. Chao turned out to be the father of Frank who was Hiro’s roommate at Berkeley.
Also during the ‘60s, Tamiko looked after Mr. and Mrs. Suppiger, an elderly couple who shared her love of classical music. They got her tickets to the San Francisco Symphony and Tamiko drove them together to the concerts.
Approaching retirement, Tamiko became active in volunteer work at the Senior Center in San Jose’s Japan Town. As many know, sewing, knitting and crocheting were her life-long passions. She made hundreds of crafts and articles for the San Jose Yu-Ai Kai for gifts and fundraising. Over a 25 year period of volunteer service - she formed many enduring friendships.
Born Buddhist, Tamiko was a life-long adherent of the Shingonshu sect and was active in San Jose Odaishiko with the Koyasan Temple in Sacramento. After her husband’s death, she also attended the Jodoshinshu San Jose Betsuin, and became a member.
She was predeceased by her husband of 60 years, Sam Nishikawa in 1997 and her brother Chester Sugimoto in 2004.
