Michael Yamashitaさんのインスタグラム写真 - (Michael YamashitaInstagram)「I’m reposting this photograph of my Dad, Susumu Yamashita, and accompanying story by my brother Ken Yamashita — Kibei Cowboy — in memory of my Dad on Father’s Day: “My father, Susumu Yamashita, was a junior executive at the San Francisco branch of Mitsubishi trading company before the December 7, 1941 Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor. On April 30, 1942, he was involved in the mass forced removal of the Japanese American community from Berkeley to Tanforan detention center, a former race track in San Bruno, with my mother, Kiyoko Yamashita, and my 18 month-old sister Kimiko. My family was housed in a horse-stall “apartment” from May to September. When my family was transported to the Topaz, Utah incarceration camp in September 1942, my father was assigned to be the liaison to the Issei (first-generation) residents due to his Japanese-language proficiency, which was gained from his 11 years of education in Tokyo between 1911–1922. This is why he was labeled as a “Kibei,” American born but educated in Japan. After working 14 months in Community Welfare, providing the camp’s social services, my father was ready for a change. My Cal Berkeley/Harvard Business School-alumnus, ex-businessman father asked to be transferred to the agricultural division to work as a ranch hand. He achieved personal satisfaction from working outdoors as a Kibei cowboy, tanned and healthy, herding cattle astride his favorite horse, Red. At age 39, he was undoubtedly one of the oldest “cowboys” amongst the riders at the Topaz cattle ranch. In 1951 he rejoined Mitsubishi and was charged with establishing its New York headquarters as the new Mitsubishi International Corporation. After Topaz, my father never rode a horse again.” The author, Ken Yamashita was born in Topaz in 1945. He is now a historian working on archiving the memories of camp survivors. My dad left big boots to fill, but in these times of hate and xenophobia, as well as an upsurge in Asian-American pride, he continues to be my role model and inspiration. #happyfathersday #fathersday2023」6月19日 5時45分