Udo and Sasashima Family Papers

Ottojiro (Otto) Sasashima (circa 1877) immigrated to the United States around 1905. He was married to Kura Noguchi, who most likely immigrated to the United States later than her husband. They had two sons, Arata Sasashima (1902-May 14, 1961), who grew up in Japan until he came to the United States, and Chester Sasashima (April 5, 1917-April 13, 1999). Their mother, Kura, died during the influenza epidemic in 1918.

Arata Sasashima immigrated to the United States in 1917. Before moving to the United States, Arata may have been a sumo wrestler. He wrestled in the 1930s in California. In 1937, he married his wife, Akiko Lilie Udo Sasashima (July 19, 1916-February 20, 2013), and they had five children together, Barbara Takumi, Peggy Sasashima Liggett, Shirley Ihara, Linda Sasashima, and Larry Sasashima. The Sasashima family was forcibly removed to the Rower incarceration camp during World War II. At the end of World War II, they moved back to Sanger, California. In 1955, Arata and his brother Chester bought a farm together.

Chester Sasashima grew up in the United States after his brother died in 1918, he was adopted by a hispanic family who worked with his father. Around twelve years old Chester moved back in with Otto, until he died when Chester was in high school. After Otto died, Chester moved in with his widowed uncle and his uncle's partner who owned a truck farm together. Chester worked on the farm until he was drafted in 1940 to the 40th Infantry Division. Following his discharge in December 1945, he went to California Flyers School and got his engineer aircraft government license. He worked for several aircraft agencies in Los Angeles before working on a farm and later opening his own with his brother. Chester worked on the farm until he got a job at General Cable. Chester and Aikiko later married in 1966 and continued to operate the farm.

Kichitaro Udo (September 1879 or 1880-1961) immigrated from Japan when he was young and met his wife, Sude Fukushia (August 10, 1988 or 1889-1972). Kichitaro and Sude were married in San Francisco in 1915. They had seven children together, including Akiko Lilie Udo Sasashima. The family briefly moved back to Japan when Kichitaro's parents died, and the family stayed for a few years. During World War II, the Udo family was incarcerated at the Granada incarceration camp. They most likely moved back to California after the war.