The History of Wakamatsu Farm

Asian American History 101

Welcome to Season 4, Episode 51! Wakamatsu Tea and Silk Farm Colony was the first Japanese settlement in America, but it’s so much more than that. Their story is a slice of American history that highlights the struggles immigrants often faced when trying to establish themselves in a new culture without much support.

In this episode we talk about the socio-political environment in Japan that led a small group of Japanese (and one German) to move to American and begin the first Japanese settlement. We share some of their struggles and lasting impact. A lot of their history would have remained hidden without the efforts of the American River Conservancy who now manage the Wakamatsu Farm and work tirelessly to preserve the farm and the surrounding area. That’s not all ARC does, of course, so we urge you to learn more about their programs and Donate to ARC in general or Donate to Wakamatsu Farm specifically.

In our opening, we celebrate the opening of the T&T Supermarket in Bellevue, Washington.

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Segments

• 00:25 Current Events: T&T Supermarket Comes to the U.S.
• 03:45 The History of Wakamatsu Farm
• 20:47 Organizations to Support: The American River Conservancy