Siblings Discover Stunning Journey of Japanese Ancestors Over 130 Years Ago | Ancestry® 

Jimmie and Katie uncovered an incredible WW2 story about their family history. Now, you can make your own post-WW2 discoveries on Ancestry with the newly released 1950 U.S. census, start searching today: www.ancestry.com/s120424/t45174/rd.ashx

I would have gone a step farther and gone back to Japan to find out where their great grandparents were originally from. I did, and it was one of the high points of my life. My grandmother only went back to Japan once, and when she did, she brought back the trunk that she took when she immigrated to Hawaii. It had her name written on it in white paint. Like all immigrants, she left Chiba Prefecture to escape poverty. Japan has an ancestry register system called a "koseki" and Jimmie and Katie can find out more about their roots. My father also used to tell me that we are descendants of samurai which I brushed off, but when I visited my grandmother's home, I was surprised to find out that the house overlooked the valley below, and we had a private shrine on the hill behind the house. The Yamaguchis were lucky in that their property was not seized without compensation like many other Japanese Americans. I wonder if Jimmie and Katie are related to skater Kristy Yamaguchi. They sure look alike.

This was a great story The camps the American Japanese were sent to were a disgrace. I’m glad they were able to see the information on their ancestors.

I'm half Japanese and half European American. I am very happy and proud to be who I am. I don't blame anybody or any situation for what happen in the past. History is hard for a lot of people including European immigrants in this country.

I (a Japanese living in Japan) have never heard of Hoshiko as a family name. So I checked up the list of all Japanese family names. It turned out to be only 1690 families with that name in Japan. The siblings may have a rather easy task finding their relatives if they want to. By the way, Hoshi means a star/stars. Ko means a child/children. Hence Hoshiko means children of stars. Hope they will read this comment.

I wish it had been included whether their great grandparents’ friend actually returned the farm or not. It should be more widely known how few were returned.

This is one of the most beautiful parks I've ever been in

During the 1800s and early 1900s, records can be easily falsified depending on where you are in the world. It took me many years to find out my actual heritage since many DNA testing companies don't do deep dive analysis and can sometimes be biased based on your birth country and what ethnicity your parents identify as. I found out that according to photo evidence and accounts written in books published between 1902 and 1987 that my great-grandmother was half-Japanese and half-Mongolian based in Xinjiang, China. Her parents met in Tokyo between 1906-1908 and her father brought her mother back to Xinjiang but changed her nationality on record as Mongolian from a different tribe to avoid discrimination during the Sino-Japanese war. Eventually either she or her family had faked her death and changed her identity so that she can move around China and eventually ended up in Malaysia in the late 50s under a Chinese name. As I did my DNA test I found out that from haplogroup and SNP breakdown (which many major DNA testing companies don't show), I had a pretty high Mongolian percentage followed by Japanese. And my Mongolian DNA showed specific haplogroups that are unique to the Oirat tribes in Kalmykia, Western Mongolia and Xinjiang. Almost all my relatives are polyglots with the capability of speaking at least 3 languages which I learn started from my Mongolian great-great grandfather and was passed onto his four children which includes my great-grandmother. It may sound like I'm making up my own ancestry story but fortunately my 3rd half uncle from the same Mongolian line had made his family tree published online before his passing. The photos and the story confirmed that my great-grandmother had come from that same family tree with similar stories about the falsified records that has been going around our family during that time.

This absolutely emotional so beautiful thank you for sharing your story

From generation to generation, a lineage shall never be forgotten and identified for the efforts and determination.

They are just handsome siblings tho, and I really love the history between their relatives that lived in Japan and their great grandparents who went through a lot during ww1 and stuff R.I.P sadly :(

This was so powerful, and so beautiful. Thank you for sharing this with the world.

This was wonderful. And it also made me cry. Really pulled at my hartstrings.

Even tough guys get teary. 😢

Beautiful, My mom is from Fresno and dad from Finland It's nice to see what kinds of people were living there in fresno's community at the time. Also lovely story very sentimental.

That ceremony was just beautiful.

Great feature. Thank you.

Kristy has always had a special place in my heart as a figure skater and now through my interactions with the Japanese community in my life.

Beautiful touching story!!!!

I would love to do this and learn about my families history more. Japanese gardens are so beautiful

He died 13 days after she did. Sad, but befitting of two people who spent so much time together.

Beautiful story!

It is really unbelievable that even after the 120K Japanese AMERICANS were locked up for years, most of them still decided to remain in the US after their release. I don't know if I could have stayed in a country where I was suspected of disloyalty only because of my ancestry.

I appreciate seeing these stories.

great video, I like ancestry dna 😀, never know what your going to find, am proud of my Ancestry and where I come from...

It breaks my heart every time when I see lifelong partners dying so shortly after their mate passes, as we see on the gravestone, with Torata passing just 13 days after Harumi died!

This was a lovely heart-warming story. As a Chinese Australian I understand their story.

How beautiful history!!! Must be very interesting to know more information about your roots... I'm the third generation born in Brazil, I jus know that my great grandparents from my both sides came from Japan ( hokkaido, but nobody knows which place exactly from hokkaido) to Brazil around 1932... it must be very exciting to know more information about our roots... Congratulations for this channel...

Those have to be the most japanese looking half whites I've ever seen and I'm mixed Japanese myself.

I worked for a dentist several years ago in Honolulu, who was a part of the 442.

It’s these stories that connect us and inspire the world to be a better place. ❤️❤️❤️

Great story. I wish that was possible for me.

Beautiful story

This is the best video you've ever posted I think 🌸💗

What a great story despite the camps ofcourse. ❤️🙏🏼 I would like to know what happened to their farm after the war

Similar story of my mom and grand parents Tsuji /Asakawa’s who pioneered Fremont Ca. at the turn of the century, they had a cherry farm but when the war started they were sent to the camps. My dad Toshio Mori fought in the 442nd and received Purple Heart. So many emotions and history, god bless.

She is stunning!

I get so emotional when I see their graves 😢

A wonderful story!

Sounds like the story of my uncle ,John Katsu. A lovely man.

It is a beautiful story, but what we did to Japanese Americans, even decorated veterans, is such a tragedy.

Must be nice to be proud of how your family members came to America..

I hope I can learn about my ancestry too.

ooo i liked this

As European that has detailed family history for 26 generations it seems so normal to know family history to me. I often joke about how my ancestor in the 1600s died form a horse kick.

Did they get their farm back?

They died within days of each other! 😢😭😭

I want to know did they get the orchard back after the war

What a great host

Great story but please stop using poor remini edits to improve their face. Original photos are just fine

Fresno!!!

I find it very very strange that those 2 never heard about their great grand parents and their history. As the descendent of Lebanese immigrants I was taught at a very age about the history of my ancestors. I even had the privilege of knowing my great grand mother .

DID THE FAMILY GET THE FARM BACK, AFTER THE WAR ???

Born and Raised in Fresno, California

How did the grandparents pass? Did they get their land back?

That Grandma is 102 damn

So what happened to their 40 acres? because they can fight for it legally

❤️❤️

Did their ancestor have any previous children before meeting their grandmother due to the huge age gap?

Being from Visalia it's kinda weird to see Fresno on here since it's only about 30 minuets away. Fresno totally sucks though so don't get the wrong idea from this video haha.

With respect to all cultures. How extraordinary to be able to view your Japanese grandparents on their land. I immediately understood when you stated you are half Japanese. However, I'm sincerely bewildered when you identify as, "and, half white". What does being, "white" mean?

130 years isn't that long ago genealogically speaking... it's only like 3 or 4 generations

I need help with understanding my info

They died only a few weeks apart. Thats sad. Must have had a Broken Heart

Lol, Faruq from MLG... "Lock it up!"

So much reality show formula and setups. You need a new director for this "show"

The sister has the strongest Japanese genes she's so pretty

No more war

Wow who could have guessed! Lmao

“I’m half Japanese and half white.” I’m sure it’s her white side that made her mix race and nationalities.

😢

Hey I know that guy he's from battle bots

we almost war our time in this earth sadddd

So did this documentary just say that their grandfather was the enemy or what? I'm trying to understand.

They can't get the farm back??

So American

American consideration camp

Half japanese and Half White ? Half European ! White are also not native

Most people don't realize that during WWII America had camps for Japanese, Italian and German non-citizens. I had a great-aunt that was forced into one in Oklahoma for the duration of the war. America has issued formal apologies to the Japanese and Italian citizens who were held in these camps. The Germans who were in the camps didn't get any acknowledgements.

why didnt you mention the names of the americans who helped the family (1) buy the farm and (2) took care of the farm while they were incarcerated??

so japan mom key fought japan mom key in WWII

FL kept the Alien Land Law, prevented or make it hard for Japanese and other Asian from owning lands, on the book until 2018. DeSantis re-introduce anti-Chinese bill on July 2023.

WYSI

They're barely Japanese. Culturally, looks, and probably religion too. All americanized.

God bless you all , Jesus loves you all only he can save u repent and turn from your sins and accept jesus as Lord and saviour and you will be saved. He is the only way to eternal life in heaven once you pass away its too late . ❤✝️🙌 ..

Another example of democrats taking from minorities based on race. Korematsu v United States.

Relocated no, sent to concentration camps.

Great story until the false god got in the way.

Pima mole left side spine Pima west coast America Ying dynasty Chinese president Ying Pima man king

I don’t even want to trace back my ancestors as I am pretty sure that they must be the villains coz I inherit that kind of character from them🫰🏻🥹