Dedicated to the Terminal Islanders

From: John Michio Ryono, C. Robert Ryono, Katsumi Ryono

FORWARD (Return to T.I.)

   I realized how swiftly time is passing when I attended the Terminal Island reunion on Jan. 10,1993, at Clark Center in Lakewood. It is nearly 100 years since the strong, brave Japanese fishermen from Wakayama-ken, Japan, started an abalone industry at White Point, San Pedro. I was shocked and saddened to learn that so many of my seniors, peers, and younger friends had passed on.

 

   The legacy of Terminal Island, with a unique history that no other Nikkei community offers, should be shared with others. Within a brief period of just over four decades, our experiences − from the pioneering days through World War I, World Depression, the Long Beach earthquake,“The Golden Years,” World War II, Evacuation, Relocation, and Incarceration behind barbed wires − should be written, learned, and permantly instilled in our minds, never to be forgotten! Reparation and Redress justifiably followed later.

 

   Much of this book comes from personal experiences and observations. Life on the island, especially for a young person, was adventurous, exciting, and stimulating. Mr. Kosuke Takeuchi’s book, “History of San Pedro,” and Mr. Kanichi Kawasaki’s master’s thesis for the University of Southern California Sociology Department was of tremendous help in collecting data and pictures. Both men were Terminal Islanders, and we should be proud of them.

 

   Reading various articles and books with stories of Terminal Island contributed immensely to my project. The book by the San Pedro Historical Society was of great value because I could relate to those stories.

 

   This book is not a scholarly written documentary. Please read and enjoy the stories and pictures. I am certain your fond memories of Terminal Island days will come back − memories like the feeling of warm sand oozing through our toes as we walked over the hot sand with bare feet.

 

   We played hard and experienced to its fullest extent the tears, the laughter, the sweat, and the guts of the life of “You-ra” and “Me-ra” society. Through it all, we can proudly proclaim we persevered.

 

   Banzai, Tami-na-ru!

                                                                                      Chikao Robert Ryono

                                                                                      Terminal Islander

                                                                                      October 12, 1994