GARDEN FANATIC: Fond muses bloom on trip

“Day of spacious dreams!

I sailed for America

Overblown with hope.” “” Ichiyo

“From my lawn mower I can make child and grandchild grow into doctors.””” Mochizuki Goro

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“All aboard,” exclaimed the conductor. Catharine, Sandy, Harry and I stepped with anticipation onto the northbound AMTRAK, a comfortable beginning for a visit to Little Tokyo in Los Angeles. This enclave of Americans of Japanese ancestry is within the confines of America, but outside her cultural borders.

Quickly transported to the Union Station, we saw the gateway gardens filled with Floss Silk trees, distinguished by their pink flowers and unmistakable armored trunks. I felt as if I were walking in my grandfather’s footsteps, albeit nearly 90 years after his arrival in the United States.

Little Tokyo is the center of historic preservation and contemporary culture for the Japanese American. My family’s historical roots are easily discovered at the Japanese American National Museum, Koyasan Buddhist Temple and surviving businesses like Rafu Bussan and Anzen Hardware.

My grandfather founded Rafu Bussan (Los Angeles Dry Goods) in 1946. I felt great pleasure that my Uncle Skip, the “new” owner, greeted us at his store.

A vigorous 80 years old, he and my aunt will be celebrating 50 years of ownership next year. He is no longer in the business of selling flour and eggs. Skip Kawaratani has built his business into the largest and most prominent gift store in Little Tokyo. Like shopping in Japan, one rarely leaves without several bags of Japanese treasures.

The Japanese American National Museum is dedicated to preserving, sharing and celebrating the history of the Japanese in America. Housed in an architecturally brilliant, modern Pavilion, the permanent and rotating exhibits chronicle Japanese culture in the United States.

The current exhibit, “Landscaping America,” explores the history, people and creative journeys that created and nurtured the Japanese-style garden. Our visit to the museum was the centerpiece of the trip to Los Angeles.

It was also another stroll down memory lane for me, as my family’s agricultural background led to multiple careers as nurserymen, gardeners and horticulturists. Whether by choice or the sole career path available after the war, my parent’s generation contributed to the diversity of the garden in America, while dreaming that their children might someday become doctors.

Continuing down historical First Street, we arrived at the oldest business in Little Tokyo. Anzen Hardware specializes in Japanese tools and cutlery. Whenever I need a special implement or gadget, I make my way to this unique store. It is definitely not your Orange County Home Depot.

We found ourselves wandering into the courtyard of the Koysan Buddhist Temple toward the end of our trip. An older woman asked if I was a member, and I replied that my grandfather, Junichi Onishi, was one of the founders of the Temple. She showed me the stone that is carved with his name (which I couldn’t read) and told me that my cousin was her personal physician in Los Angeles.

Returning home to Laguna was a time of reflection: Memories of my grandparents, relatives and, particularly my father, occupied my thoughts the entire ride.

I enjoyed a great childhood both at the beach and in Little Tokyo, and I’m proud of my family’s heritage. As I snuggled next to Catharine, I mused that you might be able to take the boy out of gardening, but you can never take the gardening out of the boy. See you next time.

STEVE KAWARATANI is married to local writer Catherine Cooper. He can be reached at (949) 497-2438, or by e-mail at plantman2@mac.com.