Roots and Branches: A close and colorful clan

Over a century ago Masuo Yasui began sowing the seeds for this family gathering. Along with his wife Shizuyo, they beget nine children, seven of whom lived to adulthood, married and began raising their own families. These seven siblings beget 30 children who in turn beget 54 children, who in turn beget . . . Oh my goodness, who knows how many begets will hang from the seven branches of the family tree this year. Thankfully it will all be documented in the Koseki, family registry, which one of the cousins will graciously update from previous reunion and have printed for our edification. Thus in spite of the natural mortality rates and the loss of the “oldest” generation, the branches and fruits of their labor grow exponentially across the generations.

Each gathering builds on the past and organizers learn from those who have gone before them. This can be a daunting task in a clan where film makers, television producers, rock musicians, doctors and lawyers reign supreme. In the end we are all simply family, mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, aunts and uncles, a hundred cousins strong.

As the designated event planners for 2015, my children and their spouses gathered to determine the who, what, when, where and how of the numerous events planned for this three day weekend with 80 to 90 attendees. It reminded me of the riddle; “As I was going to St. Ives, I met a man with seven wives, each wife had seven sacks, each cat had seven kits. . .” After juggling with the math and survey monkey confirmations, we called upon our Zen juju and just decided to go with the flow. Besides, there are three experienced Sansei (third generation) who have organized many events in their lifetime. Niko is activities director at Hood River Valley High School so a group of 80 plus is miniscule compared to 1,400 students at an Air Guitar assembly. As Mid Valley Principal, Kim is well practiced at keeping 500 elementary students in line so 30 little ones is a kindergarten cakewalk. Every year Corey hosts a weekend of poker, golf and bowling for his high school buddies, so running a Texas Hold ‘Em tournament is a sure bet. I swear the gambling gene is indomitable among the Yasui clan.

I will host a mochi and sushi making party using the hand carved mallets and fir stump crafted by Grampa Kageyama in the early 1900s. We will prepare these traditional delicacies for the Undokai Kim is hosting in her front yard, carrying on a tradition hosted by Masuo a century ago on the hills around Mosier Lake.

The children and more competitive adults will enjoy three legged races, tag team sports and judging from the hot weather, some sprinkler type events.

The Yasui’s have a plethora of talent in their midst, which will be highlighted at the evening talent show. Singing, dancing, magic tricks, perhaps a tune or two on the harmonica or ukulele. Relatives from Japan sent personalized scarves festooned with the Yasui kamon, family crest, for every family member to wear during the Obon festival dance. Imagine 80 or so people across five generations dancing in a circle to the beat of a taiko drum swathed in Hapi Coats, flowered hats and scarves. Kendra, our resident choreographer, is learning all the moves so she can lead the contingency in this traditional dance. Artists in the group are designing t-shirts with the family kamon, and buttons for the creative to design on site.

The family has talented graphic artists and film makers who will be putting together a montage of videos from past reunions, along with the viewing of Lise Yasui’s historic documentary “A Family Gathering.” We will also preview the newest film in progress, a tribute to Minoru Yasui by his daughter Holly.

Sunday the family will make the customary pilgrimage to the cemetery to visit the haka and honor those who have passed, sharing stories of their lives to help connect the next generation with their heritage. More than likely there will be some Methodist hymns sung by Aunt Michi’s clan, a testimony to their faith. The gathering will be bittersweet, having suffered too many losses these last five years, far more than customary.

If you should encounter a fairly large contingency of Japanese Americans in matching shirts prowling the streets of Hood River over the weekend, it is most certainly not an Asian invasion. Seventy-three years ago this community cast out every Japanese family and person of Japanese descent, incarcerating them in internment camps during World War II. Less than half returned to the valley. Only one of the seven siblings, Chop, returned to raise a in the face of that adversity. With a great sense of humor and a strong work ethic, he restored his farm, ultimately becoming an international ambassador for the fruit industry. His love for this valley and the land has been carried forward by his sons, Tom and Flip, and now his grandson, Corey.

Each of Masuo and Shidzuyo’s children built legacies of their own, through their life work and that of their descendents. Min in the field of civil rights and social justice, Shu, Homer and Yuka in the field of medicine, Michi in education, Roku in science. Diversity within their families has helped strengthen the rootstock, crossing multiple race, ethnicity and cultures. This eclectic family includes rock musicians and television producers, film makers and writers, graphic artists and historians, teachers and doctors, scientists and inventors, housewives and hippies, farmers and lawyers, store owners and clerks.

Many of us will gather again next year to celebrate the 100th birthday of Min Yasui and his life’s work in civil rights and social justice. We are planning a year’s worth of activities from Denver to Portland, culminating in a party in his home town of Hood River on Oct. 19, 2016. The festivities are presently in the planning phase with the family discussing many ideas as we gather this weekend. I will share more as the family decides on the best way to bring Minoru Yasui’s legacy to life through theater, film, art and discussion. A young group of middle school students, wise beyond their years, has already learned of his legacy and have been inspired to send a video to President Obama heralding his passion and life work for others. I will share more as this new chapter in the family gathering evolves.