At the age of 99, Nellie Nakamura finally
found the time to work on her memoirs. Articulate and funny,
with a vivid memory reaching far back into the past, Nellie
weaves a rich tapestry unscrolling from the samurai days of
19th century Japan to the present,
History comes
vividly alive in this multi-generational saga of an ordinary
family swept up by the tides of change—from feudal Japan
to the high-tech boom in Silicon Valley.
The story
begins with Nellie’s strong-minded mother, Rui, who
travels the world with a wealthy New England spinster before
facing poverty and racism in the United States.
Nellie, who
inherits her mother’s spunk, loses her business during
the Great Depression, her home during the internment, and
tragically, a son while incarcerated at Heart Mountain. Not
until middle age does Nellie find financial security.
Nevertheless, she rises to each challenge with humor and grace.
A
Century of Change is a
skillful blend of oral history grounded by sound historical
narrative. It includes over one hundred historic photos and
documents.
Co-author
Shizue Seigel is the former editor of Nikkei Heritage magazine
and the author of In Good
Conscience: Supporting Japanese Americans during the
Internment.