The War Years in Japan
Pages to this website: The Early Years, The War Years in Japan, Early Years in the US, Later Years in the US, Obituary.
After graduating high school in Tacoma Washington, Mariko Ishio and her family returned to Japan in 1938. We've heard many stories about how difficult it would have been to find a job in the US for Japanese Americans, and how this was one of the motivating factors for her family's move to Nakano-ku on the outskirts of Tokyo.
However, one of her grand daughters, Zebe, remembers Gramma telling her that the Ishios traveled to Japan after Mary graduated from high school because Mary's grand father Kazume was ailing and Mary's mother wanted to see her father before he died. The Ishios were unable to return to the Tacoma, Washington when the US entered WW2 against Japan.
In Nakano-ku, she attended school studying music and eventually becoming a kindergarten teacher.
During World War II she survived the fire bombing of Tokyo. She has told us many stories of the hardships during this time, including being so hungry that at times she and her family ate grass and weeds. Once at the train station, a US plane strafed the platform where she was standing.
The fire bombing of Tokyo eventually resulted in the destruction of her neighborhood, but her family's house somehow survived (one of the only buildings left standing). Her parents opened their house to their neighbors and their family providing respite and comfort to the community.
After the conclusion of the war in 1945, Mary worked for the American Consulate in Tokyo, where she met Bill Sakayama, who was a translator for the US Army. The story of their meeting is very romantic and special. On a Tokyo commuter train, some American GI's were discussing how they were going to beat up that Japanese guy dressed in an American military uniform. Mary who was seated next to them, overheard their bigoted remarks. She walked over to the Japanese fellow and sat down next to him. In Japanese she told him what the American GI's were planning and urged him to get off the train. The young fellow protested, saying he needed to deliver the package he was carrying. Mary offered to deliver the package for him and he slipped away at the next station stop. Mary didn't see the stranger she had aided again...until several months later when they saw each other at the American Consulate where they both now worked for the American occupation forces. Obviously they hit it off very well because within two years they were married.
Bill and Mary celebrated their marriage at the beginning of 1947 in Japan. Their first son, Bob, was born in December of 1947. Their second son, Larry, was born two years later (1949) at the 49th General Hospital in Tokyo.
1938 Mary on board the ship, An Hein Maiu, that took her family to Japan.
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1938 After high school in Tacoma WA, Mary's family returned to Japan.
Family members gathered in Kobe Japan for the 1 year memorial of the death of Kuzume, her grandfather (her mother's father). |
1938 Mary in a formal family portrait after they had moved to Japan.
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1938 Mary continued with her music studies at the Musachino Ongaku Gakko.
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1939 Mary and her wheels!
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1939 Mary with classmates and teacher on a trip to Karuizawa.
Karuizawa is an upmarket mountain resort at the foot of the active volcano Mount Asama in Nagano Prefecture The mountain resort provides a pleasant escape from the summer heat. |
1939 Mary attended Keio University where she was a member of the English Speaking Society.
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1939 Mary continued with her music studies.
Mary with some of her classmates from the Musashino Ongaku Gakko. |
1940 Mary attended Japanese language classes.
She is pictured with some of her classmates. |
1940 Apparently Mary taught a kindergarten class.
This is their garduation picture. |
1940's Have no idea what this group shot is about, but it looks very interesting!
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1941 Mary and her brother, Aki, leave for classes.
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1941 Mary, her mother and a friend or perhaps a cousin at the Toho Studio Gardens.
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1942 estimate Mary all dressed up.
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1943 estimate Mary with friend.
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1943 estimate Mary with two girlfriends.
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1943-45 Mary visiting the Kurata (relatives?) home in Takaoka.
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1943 Mary with relative or friend.
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1944 estimate Mary with mother, Aki, her brother, and relatives, perhaps her mother's brother and cousins.
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1944 estimate Mary with her brother Aki, her mother, and Mieko, Aki's future wife.
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1945-46 Mary with American women who she billeted with in Tokyo.
They were visiting Kyoto in this picture. |
1945 Mary worked at the Domei News Agency
after the Americans entered Japan at the end of World War Two. |
1945 The war was over and American soldiers were in Tokyo.
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1945 Mary taught kindergarten.
These are all the students in Tokuiku kindergarten class graduation. Mary is in the back row, center. |
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1945 This is just Mary's kindergarten class.
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1945 For six months before the atomic bombings,
the United States intensely fire-bombed 67 Japanese cities, including Tokyo. The devastation in the neighborhood where Mary lived. |
1945 Mary's home was one of the few remaining in her neighborhood.
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1945 The destruction of Hiroshima by an atomic bomb.
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1945 Hiroshima
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1946 Mary worked as a switchboard operator at the AFPAC Jocky Telechange.
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1945-46 Mary sitting with buildings in background.
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1946 estimate Mary with her mother.
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1946 Mary met Bill Sakayama in Tokyo, probably in 1945.
He was part of the occupying American forces. They were engaged in 1946. |
About 1946-47 Mary holding a bottle of Coke Cola.
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About 1946-47 Mary, the bathing beauty.
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1947 Mary and Bill in February. The wedding party.
Mary and Bill with the maid of honor and best man. |
1947 The minister who married Bill and Mary.
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1947 Mary in a traditional Japanese wedding kimono and Bill
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1947 The family members of the bride and groom.
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1947 The newly wed couple with their wedding cake.
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1947 Mary's brother, Aki, also married.
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1947 Bill and Mary on their honeymoon at the Kurata Ryokan.
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1947 A honeymoon kiss at the Kurata Ryokan.
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1947 Bill and Mary on another leg of their honeymoon at the Fujya Hotel.
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1947 Mary with her mother and new sister-in-law, Mieko.
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1947 The recently married couples with
Mary's mother, father and relative. Both Mary and Mieko are expecting. |
1947 In Hayama at the beach with Mieko and Aki.
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1947 In Hayama with Mieko and Aki.
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1947 Bill and Mary, happily married.
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1947 Mary and Bill on a boat to Hatsushima.
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About 1947 Bill and Mary with some military friends.
Not sure what the event is about. |
1948 1st wedding anniversary.
Their first son, Bobbie is 10 weeks old. |
1948 Son, Bobbie, is 100 days old.
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1948 Visiting Yokahama, the Hanida Airfield.
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1948 A smartly dressed Mary on a visit to the residence of Princess Takamastu,
known informally as Princess Kikuko. Princess Takamastu was a member of the Japanese imperial family. She was the wife of Prince Takamatsu (Nobuhito), the third son of the Emperor TaishÅ and the Empress Teimei. |
1949 Mary, Bill and Bobbie at the beach.
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1949 Mary and Bobbie at the Garden of Meiji Kinenkan
with their trusty ford in the background. Meiji Kinenkan is located in the outer gardens of the Meiji Shrine, a famous Tokyo landmark. |
1949 Mary and Bill welcome their second son, Larry. Bobby is 2 years old.
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In Memoriam for Mary Ishio Sakayama 1920 - 2011