A Biography of the First Japanese American Millionaire
Ushijima Kinji
Notes: "A biography of the well known Issei pioneer, Ushijima Kinji (1864–1926), designed especially for young readers. Known in English as George Shima, the Potato King, the subject [of the book] was a native of the city of Kurume in Fukuoka Prefecture who came to America in 1888. His successful life as a potato grower and community leader is held up as an example to be emulated."—A Buried Past, 791.
Since his death in 1926, Ushijima has been the subject of a number of books and magazine articles in Japan, but he is very little known in the United States. At his peak, he was said to have controlled 85% of the potato production in California and his "Shima Fancy" brand was grown on 28,000 acres. He is widely cited as the richest Japanese American during the early 20th century. His empire began to crumble after anti-Japanese legislation made it illegal for Japanese immigrants to buy or lease land.
This book, published fewer than six months before the attack on Pearl Harbor and the outbreak of war between the United States and Japan, addresses the racism faced by Ushijima in America, but does not appear to be especially dogmatic.
[2], [fold-out color illustration backed with a map], 4, 6, 344, 5-page chronology, [9] pages. Illustrated in the text with halftone photographs and reproductions of paintings commissioned for this book. Published in the Great Men Biographical Series (Ijinden Bunko).
OCLC: 676297261 (National Diet Library); 835671935 (Waseda)
Edition + Condition: First edition (first printing). A very good copy in a very good dust jacket. Some staining; text block printed on poor-quality paper, which has tanned.
Publication: Tokyo: Dainihon Yubenkai Kodansha, 1941.
Item No: #362399
Price: $1,250