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THE HISTORY OF JAPANESE AMERICANS IN THE CENTRAL COAST
Early Japanese Americans came to California around the 1900s as farm workers. Japanese Americans settled in the Central Valley, creating communities and supporting each other.
The Alien Land Law of 1913 presented obstacles, Japanese Americans found ways around like collaborative names to lease land.
Before WWII, there used to be a Nihonmachi, also known as a Japan town, which was located on Higuera Street with Hotels, groceries, and a general store
WWII forced all Japanese Americans into concentration camps, many Japanese Families did not have anything to return to. Only the Hayashis and the Edos owned land after WWII, and were able to create the POVE ismo oceano vegetable exchange and a COOP in Arroyo Grande
After WWII, many families did not want to stand out in fear of being put back in similar conditions to the concentration camps. As a result, many families moved to the midwest and chicago through the Civil Resettlement Program
Today, there is still the Buddhist and Christian Temple on Ontario Road. Japanese culture and language was maintained, but at the same time was referred as a church to “fit in” with American culture.
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