The Nishimutas: An Oral History of a Japanese and Spanish Family

About the Book

They were born more than 10,000 miles apart in the late 1800s. Two oceans and the continent of North America separated them, Kutaro Nishimuta, a Japanese gentleman, and Louisa Lorenzo, a beautiful Spanish woman. Discover how the Far East meets the European West in this incredible true story of two poor immigrants.

Follow the travels and drama that brought these two opposites together in the heartland of America. Learn about the negative consequences of their interracial love. Louisa held a faith in God that would help them survive, but their spiritual strength and courage would be severely tested by prejudice, poverty, and the world at war.

This is the true story of an Issei immigrant and his multicultural Nisei family. They lived and farmed in rural Oklahoma and survived the Great Depression. It is important to understand the enormous impact of Pearl Harbor and World War II on the life of this Japanese American family. This is an oral history; the words of their multicultural children paint a picture of love, faith, and inspiring optimism.

The author investigates and explores this multicultural family through social, political, economic, and cultural analysis, giving us a better understanding of their unique lives.

About the Author

Juli Ann Nishimuta is a third generation Japanese-American, a Sansei. She attended San Jose State University, where she earned her B.A. and Master of Arts degree, in Social Science, with a Women?s Studies Emphasis. She enjoys books, cats, and nature. Juli lives in the mountainous country of North Carolina.