Akimi, their lovely spouse, Reiko, the sansei (third-generation) daughter, her spouse

She emerged since the an image fiance inside 1918 for the Shinyo Maru when she was to try to get years of age

I recall fulfilling Ayako Kikugawa the very first time regarding cold temperatures off 1985 in the Dot’s Eatery during the Wahiawa, Oahu. It actually was at annual Kumamoto kenjinkai (prefectural club) to the Wahiawa/Waialua region shinnenkai (New year affair). This new pub are reactivated shortly after World war ii, within 1955, following nisei sons returned house from serving towards the Eu battlefields. My hubby, Douglas, was chairman of your Waialua/Wahiawa area bar for a decade. Thus i was happy to get to know some of the issei women who’d started just like the picture brides out-of Kumamoto. A lot of the issei husbands had after already been management of your bar however, got because died. Any of these wives remained for the well being and you may seemed forward to the fresh new celebration yearly. One wife are Ayako Kikugawa. At the eighty-7, she had been gorgeous and incredibly elegant. Their sensitive possess, darkish eyes, and you may fair complexion paired their unique mellow-verbal, gentle style. It actually was difficult to suppose that she used to be certainly the many visualize brides who have been obligated to toil out within the Wahiawa’s pineapple areas underneath the scorching sunshine and then make a full time income. Shortly after retiring in the pineapple plantation, Ayako compensated off along with her partner, Shitoku, along with her third young man, Akimi, for the Wahiawa. Akimi got invested in this new residential property just after World war ii. Wahiawa try referred to as “Pineapple Urban area” because are enclosed by acres and you can miles regarding steeped pineapple industries. Their house try located in a peaceful means away from high eucalyptus trees along side Kakunahoa River, and that streams lazily for the tranquil Lake Wilson, the greatest freshwater lake with the Oahu. New Waialua Sugar Team first built which tank so you’re able to irrigate new sugarcane industries as much as Waimea Bay. People called they the new Wahiawa Reservoir, but now it is advisable called River Wilson. It’s a well-known season-bullet fishing spot for tilapia, catfish, bluegill, and other styles of seafood. The brand new lake comes with environmentally friendly turtles. The front grass regarding Ayako’s single-tale house try remarkably landscaped with an excellent Japanese stone garden, shapely oak bonsai tree, and you can red camellia vegetation.

She sat easily into the sofa together with her give folded on the their particular lap

and their adorable yonsei (fourth-generation) grandchildren most of the lived happily in one place. Whenever i went to Ayako into August 11, 1987, she greeted myself with a loving look and bowed their own lead once or twice in the home. I responded having a bend, exactly as my mother got taught myself whenever i try really younger. Ayako, like many almost every other issei female, dressed conservatively, into the a simple bluish thread skirt covered inside a flowery trend. Their own silvergray locks is actually lay with the a good chignon on the rear of their own direct and you will stored set up that have an enthusiastic olive-environmentally friendly lacquer brush. We realized that their particular hand was in fact covered within the markings out-of removing new spiny, razor-evident will leave throughout the crown of the pineapple bush. They certainly were the actual only real revealing signs left of one’s age she got labored on brand new plantation. Just like the she began unfolding their prior, their own sound faltered some time which have feelings. She paused, and you may slowly restored her composure. She is the new embodiment of the lady on Meiji era: strong-willed, separate, and you will dedicated. Believe it or not, in her a couple of-hr interview she don’t play with most of their Kumamoto dialect. She utilized fundamental Japanese with a few dialect and very absolutely nothing Pidgin or English. We started to inquire towards method she talked. During the period of my personal interview with many issei in the countries, I ran across that people which stored in romantic touching together with other villagers throughout the same countries hired the dialects and you can community customs. It was easier to correspond with one another within common words. The fresh