There once was a boy named Koji. He lived in Japan. Koji loved his home in Japan. 

Every night, Koji’s parents told him stories about his grandfather, who had immigrated to the United States in 1935.

Together, they read Grandfather’s old letters written to the family back home.

Dear Koji and Family,

I am well. It is great to speak to you again. How was the summer for you all? I heard that it was quite cold in Japan this year.

They called him once a week.

Ring Ring!

And Grandfather visited once a year to narrate his stories to Koji in person. 

One of the first things that Grandfather did when he got to the United States was go to a swimming pool. 

He handed his money to the ticket clerk, but the clerk wouldn’t let him in. Grandfather was the only one turned away from the pool (“Prewar Japanese American Community”). 

Grandfather felt so alone. He missed having a family to come home to.

That’s when Grandfather met Grandmother. Grandmother was a “picture bride.” This meant that their marriage had been arranged so that she could enter the United States more easily. Before this moment, Grandfather and Grandmother had never even talked to each other before (Lee 67)!

Grandfather had been a farmer in Japan. With his background, he became a farmer in the United States, specifically in California’s Santa Clara Valley.

But grandfather didn’t make as much as other workers in America, especially those who were white, even though he worked just as hard as them (Lee 123).