Emiko Nakano’s journey to ACC Care Center began in January 2015. Three of her children created a triangle of care for her in the Bay Area, rotating hosting responsibilities providing in-home care for their mother Emiko. Then she suffered a stroke and required rehabilitation. The siblings researched skilled nursing facilities when caring for Emiko went beyond their collective capacities. They chose the ACC Care Center, and Emiko beams when asked about living at ACC for the past three years. She looks forward to celebrating her 100th birthday at the ACC Care Center with her family, friends and caregivers in the fall of 2019.
Emiko Nakano has been a resident at ACC Care Center for almost four years. At age 98, she remains one of its most active residents. She likes to plan her activities out using the Care Center’s monthly activity calendar to stay busy and engaged with the residential community. She also sells donated items like Trader Joe’s flowers and other items to fellow residents and their guests. To date, she has sold more than $3,000 worth of flowers and goods with the proceeds going to local charities and people in need.
Emiko Shares Her Story
Recently, Emiko was kind enough to share with ACC many interesting details about her life. She was born in Japan as Emiko Fujikawa in 1919, and emigrated to the U.S. when she was just one. At the time, she said, “Woodrow Wilson was president and silent movies were still popular!”
Emiko grew up in Isleton, the second oldest of ten children. Her parents sent her older sister back to Japan to be raised by her grandparents, effectively making Emiko the oldest child in America. Her dad was a farmer, and eventually became a foreman who managed migrant workers.
During Emiko’s youth, the schools she attended were racially segregated. Chinese, Filipino, and Japanese students were sent to “Oriental School” until they reached high school. Emiko was studious and well read. In 1938, Emiko graduated from Rio Vista High School and had her sights on UC Berkeley. She had excellent grades and lots of ambition, but could not physically travel to Sacramento or the Bay Area to take the entrance exam due to limited transportation.
Joan of Arc was her hero; so much so that she adopted “Joan” as her middle name. Emiko’s aspiration to be strong and brave would eventually serve her well during World War II, when her family was sent to an internment camp.
Marriage and War Changed Everything
Emiko met Mario Masaharu Nakano through a church friend. They got married and had their first child, Tamaye. Then the war broke out, and Emiko’s family and her parents were sent to Tule Lake internment camp. She spent four years there, where she gave birth to their second child, Mario Jr.
Like the 120,000 other Japanese sent to internment camps, Emiko led an austere life. They had to deal with cramped living quarters constantly, and faced uncertainty about their future.
Emiko recalls vividly the controversial questionnaire that arose out of FDR’s Executive Order 9066 that she and her husband had to answer. This survey was meant to assess a person’s level of American patriotism, with questions ranging whether they practiced judo or played baseball, or if they were Buddhist or Christian.
The last two questions bluntly questioned their loyalty: They were asked if they would be willing to serve in the U.S. armed forces and if they would give up their loyalty to the Emperor of Japan. Especially for the men, fears of deportation and revenge abounded, no matter how they answered these questions.
Post War to Present
After the war was over, the Nakano family moved to Hunters Point and later to the Richmond Housing Project in Richmond, CA. Mario Sr. bought Berkeley Bait Shop in late 1940s. It was a grueling business: The shop opened at 3 am to serve fishermen stocking up for their day’s expeditions. Emiko worked long hours while raising their growing family, which now had four children: Tamaye, Mario, Steven, and Julie.
The Nakanos sold the bait shop in the late 1950s. After that, Mario Sr. became gardener and landscaper. In the late 1960’s, he bought into BBB Nursery located at 1050 Gilman Street in Berkeley. Eventually he bought out his partner and changed the business to Nakano Nursery, which he and his family ran for many decades until his passing in 1987.
Today, Emiko has six grandchildren and five great grandchildren. At the ACC Care Center, we look forward to celebrating Emiko’s 100th birthday with her whole family!
