James Yamamoto
Port of Los Angeles Centennial Oral History Project
The Port of Los Angeles celebrated its Centennial on December 9, 2007. As part of the Port of Los Angeles Centennial Oral History Project, these interviews feature various members of the Los Angeles Harbor Area community who were interviewed in 2007 to document different eras in Port history.
National Capital Contractors
James Yamamoto, born in 1936, hails from Terminal Island, California. His early life was shaped by the local Japanese fishing community and his father's grocery store. The onset of World War II marked a period of upheaval for Yamamoto and his family, as they were subjected to internment along with many other Japanese Americans. This experience had a profound impact on his family's ship chandlery business. Post-war, Yamamoto witnessed and adapted to the evolution of communication within the shipping industry. Over the years, he observed a shift in the composition of ship crews and the countries with which they conducted business. His life story is not only a personal narrative but also a reflection of the broader changes in the shipping industry and the challenges faced by Japanese Americans during a turbulent period in United States history.
Scope and Content Note
This interview with James Yamamoto provides a comprehensive account of his life and the broader historical context of the shipping industry. Yamamoto recounts his childhood memories of Terminal Island, the dynamics of the Japanese fishing village, and the operation of his father's grocery store. He offers a personal perspective on the impact of World War II, detailing the internment of Japanese Americans and the subsequent changes to his family's business. The narrative then transitions to the post-war era, where Yamamoto discusses the transformation of the shipping industry. He notes the diversification of ship crews, the varying demands for supplies based on crew nationalities, and the expanded role of ship chandlers to include transportation and additional services for crew members. The interview also touches on the challenges of accessing vessels at the Port of Los Angeles due to its high activity levels. Through Yamamoto's experiences, the interview sheds light on the historical shifts in the shipping industry and the adaptation of businesses to these changes.
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