Last Palos Verdes Peninsula Japanese Farmer

James Hatano, 82, is the last farmer on the Palos Verdes Peninsula — and the last link to a Palos Verdes few remember, one dotted with farms worked by Japanese immigrants and their families. Mr. Hatano still works two plots near the new Terranea Resort, one below the Rancho Palos Verdes City hall under a lease with the city where he raises artichokes, flowers and cactus, and another plot of 8 1/2 acres near the Point Vicente Lighthouse next to the Interpretive Center where he raises flowers.

Photo of James Hatano, 82, above, by Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times

Mr.Hatano is the last of the Japanese farmers who have grown crops on the Palos Verdes Peninsula since the turn of the century. When land values in the early 1900’s dictated that Peninsula property could no longer be used for only cattle grazing, the owner of the Palos Verdes Pnensula, George Bixby leased the land to Japanese farmers, at the urging of Phillips, to cultivate fruits and vegetables. Land was leased for approx. ten dollars an acre, and in the early 1900’s, approx. 40 Japanese families were cultivating crops on the Peninsula. The Ishibashi family was one of the first Japanese families to farm the Peninsula. Kumekichi Ishibashi came to San Francisco in 1895, and walked to Los Angeles. He worked as a houseboy for many years, but in 1906 leased his first farm from Bixby in 1906 at the site of the present day Trump National Golf course in Rancho Palos Verdes. In 1910, Kumekichi brought his younger brother, Tomizo, to join him at the farm. The Ishibashi family used to get water once a week for their house, which they built themselves, from a well in the Portuguese Bend area, and this took the better part of a day. The family farmed by the “dry farming” method with no irrigation, and grew beans, cucumbers, peas and tomatoes. Early electricity was obtained by a boat generator, and auto batteries.

1923 Picture of some of the 40 Japanese families cultivating the Palos Verdes Peninsula (courtesy of Palos Verdes Library District)

In 1913, George Bixby sold 16,000 acres of Rancho de los Palos Verdes to a group of investors led by Frank Vanderlip, retaining 1,000 acres for himself, which later subsequently evolved into Harbor City. Jotham Bixby died in 1916.

When World War II began, however, the Japanese families who were farming the Rancho Palos Verdes area were interned for the duration of the war; many were relocated to the internment camp at Manzanar, California. On February 1, 1942, Kumekuchi Ishibashi and his wife Take were taken to a detention camp for Japanese in Bismarck, North Dakota. In July, 1942, Kumekuchi’s family including his son Mas, Mas’ wife, Miye, along with their son Satoshi, who was seven years old at the time, and Mas’ brothers, George and Aki were interned at Poston, Arizona. In a little over one year, Kumekichi was able to reunite with his family in Poston. They then moved to Utah to farm for the duration of the war. Mas’ brother, George and Kay, served in the 442nd Regimental Infantry Combat Unit. This unit received more citations than any other outfit [of its size]. Miye Ishibashi sold strawberries on the side of the road and Mas farmed Rancho Palos Verdes for over 50 years, with the exception of the internment years. Their son Satoshi continued working with his father to farm rolling acres of barley and garbanzo beans for many of those years as well. Tomizo, Kumekichi’s brother, had four farming sons: Ichiro, James, Tom and Daniel and two daughters, Yukiko and Naomi. James Ishibashi’s farm is several miles down the road. His wife sold vegetables at “Annie’s stand,” serving the community for forty years. Tom Ishibashi farms on city-owned property next to Torrance Municipal Airport. [retired in 2006].

Mr. Hatano has been growing crops on the Palos Verdes Peninsula for over 50 years, raised his family in Rancho Palos Verdes and now lives in San Pedro, and works his land only about 3 days a week with the help of his son and 2 other workers.