In 1980, Masako Katsura decided to leave her home country of Japan and move to the United States. It was a risky decision but one that paid off. She arrived in New York City with just $600 in her pocket and not knowing a single person. But through hard work and determination, she was able to make a new life for herself. In this blog post, Masako shares her story of immigration to the United States and what it was like to start over in a new country.
Masako Katsura’s life in Japan
Masako Katsura was born in Osaka, Japan, on September 9th, 1929. She was the youngest daughter of a large family; growing up, she had six brothers and sisters. Her father owned a successful business, and her mother was a homemaker. Katsura attended an all-girls school where she excelled in her studies. In 1947, she graduated from high school and began attending college in Tokyo.
During her sophomore year of college, Katsura met her future husband, Franklyn Woodrow Miller Jr., stationed in Japan with the United States Air Force. The two married in 1950 and moved to the United States, where Miller was stationed in San Francisco. Katsura did not speak English when she arrived in the United States and found adjusting to life in a new country complex. However, she quickly learned English and became involved in the local Japanese community.
The couple eventually settled in Los Angeles, where they raised three children. Miller worked as an engineer while Katsura stayed home to care for their young family. In her spare time, she enjoyed cooking, gardening, and sewing.
Katsura’s life in Japan was happy and peaceful. She enjoyed spending time with her large family and close friends. She was an excellent student and had a bright future ahead of her when she met her husband and decided to move to the United States. Although it was difficult for her to adjust to life in a new country at first, Katsura eventually found
Masako Katsura’s journey to the United States
Masako Katsura was born in Osaka, Japan, and immigrated to the United States as a child with her parents. She grew up in Los Angeles, California, and attended UCLA, where she majored in Asian Studies. After graduation, she worked as an English teacher in Japan for a year before returning to the United States to pursue a career in international relations.
She began her career as an intern at the Japanese consulate in Los Angeles and later worked as a political analyst for a think tank in Washington, D.C. She eventually returned to Japan to work for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where she served as a diplomat for many years.
Since retiring from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Masako has been living in Tokyo with her husband and two children. She is currently working on a book about her experiences as a diplomat and continues to be active in promoting understanding between the people of Japan and the United States.
Masako Katsura’s life in the United States
Masako Katsura arrived in the United States in 2001 as a student on a J-1 visa. She enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley, where she studied English and American literature. After graduating with her bachelor’s degree, she worked various jobs in the Bay Area, including as a nanny, an administrative assistant, and a Japanese language teacher. In 2009, she obtained her master’s degree in education from San Francisco State University.
Since then, Masako has been working as a high school guidance counselor in Oakland, California. She loves her job and finds it very rewarding to help her students navigate the college application process and figure out their plans. She enjoys spending time with her husband and two young children in her free time, going on hikes, and practicing yoga.
Exhibition tours
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Guided tours of the exhibition are led by museum staff and last approximately one hour. They include an introduction to the show, highlights of crucial objects on view, and a discussion of the themes addressed in the exhibition.
Conclusion
Masako Katsura’s journey to the United States is both inspiring and informative. She has shown us how determined she was to make a better life for herself and her family, and in doing so, she has given us a glimpse into the Japanese immigrant experience. We are grateful to Masako for sharing her story with us, and we hope that it will help others to understand the challenges and rewards of immigration better.
