Sawako Ashizawa Uchimura

(b. 1938) Philipines-born hikiagesha who later migrated to the United States.

Life in Davao, Philippines Kindergarten in Davao, Philippines Evacuated to the Jungle Captured by Guerillas after bombing of Pearl Harbor Family was shipped back to Japan after the war Attitudes toward Hikiagesha Move to Los Angeles First Impressions of the US Life in the Philippines Unique Identity from Having Multiple Backgrounds On Nikkei Identity Returning to the Philippines

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Sawako Ashizawa Uchimura was born in Davao, Mindanao, Philippines on March 25, 1938 as the first daughter of Katsujiro and Ura “Mie” Ashizawa. She was 7 years old in 1945 when her family had to leave the Philippines after Japan’s defeat in World War II. Her family lived in Shizuoka for the next 10 years. Later the family received residency status in the United States and arrived in Los Angeles in March 1956. Sawako went to Alhambra High School and later studied at Pasadena City College. She eventually found a generous mentor who helped support her through her education at San Jose State University and became an occupational therapist. Currently she is volunteering at the Sakura Garden (Formerly Keiro Retirement Home). (March 2018)

community migration philippines japanese school kindergarten language World War II jungle Pearl Harbor hiroshima Japan hikiagesha immigration United States boyle heights jobs Los Angeles citizenship identity nikkei childhood