Frank Hatakeyama - A Legacy of Leadership

Kikuji “Frank” Hatakeyama: A Legacy of Leadership, Business, and Community in Saratoga

 

As members of the Saratoga Rotary Club, we take pride in recognizing those who have contributed to our local community. One such individual is Kikuji “Frank” Hatakeyama, a businessman, entrepreneur, and philanthropist whose legacy still resonates in Saratoga today.

 

Arriving in the United States in 1904, Hatakeyama built his life in Saratoga, founding Saratoga Laundry in 1905, which became a cornerstone of the community. More than just a business owner, he was a champion of service, leadership, and education. As President of the Japanese Association of America, he helped support newly arrived Japanese immigrants, ensuring they had access to housing, employment, and legal assistance.

 

One of his most notable contributions was his strong support for education, particularly for Japanese immigrants. He not only facilitated English education but also hosted the courses at Saratoga Laundry. Through his connections to Saratoga’s local churches, he arranged for Sarah Brown, daughter of abolitionist John Brown, to teach English classes on-site, ensuring that immigrants had access to language education in a familiar and supportive environment—a reflection of his deep belief in education as a bridge to opportunity.

 

The earliest newspaper mention of Hatakeyama’s business appeared in June 1908 in the Los Gatos Mail, where it was referred to as the Japanese Laundry. By September 1908, it had been renamed Saratoga Laundry, which remained its official name thereafter.

 

Additionally, Hatakeyama’s contributions extended beyond his business ventures. As President of the Santa Clara Produce Canning Company, he played a vital role in the local agricultural economy, supporting farmers and advancing canning operations in the region.

 

Hatakeyama’s commitment to Saratoga’s landscape left a lasting impact. He was instrumental in planting trees along Big Basin Way, which later became the parent trees for the trees that still line Saratoga’s downtown streets today, as noted in the Los Gatos-Saratoga Observer (Oct. 6, 1965).

 

In 1933, as President of the San Jose Nihonjin-Kai (Japanese Association), Hatakeyama led a campaign to purchase a building to serve future generations of Japanese Americans. Along with Yoshio Ando, Katsusaburo Kawahara, Toshio Kimura, Kunisaku Mineta, Kichitaro Okagaki, and Shoji Takeda, he helped raise a $700 down payment toward the $5,000 asking price for the property, securing a space for the Japanese American community.

 

 

The Attorney General at the time justified Hatakeyama’s arrest by stating that he "has heretofore been apprehended as being potentially dangerous to the public peace and safety of the United States."

Hatakeyama was born in Japan on March 15, 1877, and was educated in Japanese schools, later working as a grammar school teacher from 1901 to 1904. He immigrated to the United States on June 15, 1904, and became a well-respected businessman and community leader, owning Saratoga Laundry, in which he invested $25,000, and holding an interest in the New World Sun Publishing Company. Additionally, he owned rental property, collecting $75 per month from tenants. 

 

At the time of his arrest, Hatakeyama was:

 

In 1940, he was honored in Tokyo at the 2600th Anniversary celebration of the founding of the Japanese Empire, where he was decorated by Foreign Minister Matsuoka for his contributions to Japanese overseas trade and Japanese-American relations. He was also a speaker at a dinner honoring the arrival of Japanese Ambassador Admiral Nomura to the United States.

 

 

Hatakeyama was actively involved in the Japanese Association of America from 1912 to 1941, where he:

 

Despite his contributions, Hatakeyama was arrested on December 8, 1941, the morning after the attack on Pearl Harbor, at the age of 64. He was booked into Santa Clara County Jail, then transferred by the INS to a federal holding facility in San Francisco on December 10, 1941. He was then moved to Fort Missoula, Montana, and later to Fort Sill, Oklahoma. 

 

Despite letters of support from local Saratoga residents and business owners, Hatakeyama was never exonerated. Under the Trading with the Enemy Act, the U.S. government seized his property, including:

 

Following his internment, his property was sold, as reported in The San Francisco Examiner. His wife Shigeki Hatakeyama, their children, and grandchildren were forcibly removed from their home and interned at the Heart Mountain War Relocation Center in Wyoming. The family endured harsh conditions and displacement, and they never returned to Saratoga after the war.

 

 

Hatakeyama’s legacy was fondly remembered by many in the community, including Norman Mineta, the future U.S. Secretary of Transportation. Jason Hatakeyama, Kikuji’s grandson, recalled a 2007 meeting with Mineta at an award dinner in Washington, D.C., where Mineta immediately recognized him and said:

“I know you! Your grandfather used to give us dimes when we helped at his laundry in Saratoga!”

This moment reflects the lasting impact of Hatakeyama’s generosity and kindness.

 

 

February marks an important moment in American history, as February 19th is the anniversary of Executive Order 9066, issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on February 19, 1942. This order led to the forced internment of over 120,000 Japanese Americans, including Hatakeyama and his family.

By researching Executive Order 9066, we ensure that fear and prejudice do not lead to similar injustices in the future.

How can we continue to support and uplift our diverse community today? Let’s learn, advocate, and ensure that the contributions of Saratoga’s early pioneers are never forgotten.