{"id":4357,"date":"2011-07-29T18:14:47","date_gmt":"2011-07-29T22:14:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/apanews.si.edu\/?p=4357"},"modified":"2014-12-30T21:55:31","modified_gmt":"2014-12-30T21:55:31","slug":"toku-shimomura","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/now\/toku-shimomura\/","title":{"rendered":"Picture Bride Toku Shimomura"},"content":{"rendered":"

Written by Stephanie Chang, Summer 2011 intern.<\/em><\/p>\n

There are several perks to being an intern at the Smithsonian Institution.\u00a0 With a wave of my purple badge, I am able to breeze on by the long lines at the museums, receive discounts at various Smithsonian food courts and even get free tickets to the Smithsonian IMAX.\u00a0\u00a0 But I must say, perhaps the best perk of all has to be the opportunities I get to work with prolific Asian American scholars and notable members of the APA community. Roger Shimomura, a ground-breaking artist to be featured in next month\u2019s Smithsonian exhibit, Portraiture Now: Asian American Portraits of Encounter<\/em><\/a> at the National Portrait Gallery, was one such member that I had the pleasure to collaborate with.<\/p>\n

\"Toku<\/a>

Toku Shimomura<\/p><\/div>\n

Professor Shimomura has created a wide range of, as stated by his biography on his website, \u201cpaintings, prints, and theatre pieces [that] address sociopolitical issues of ethnicity.\u201d1<\/sup>\u00a0 Much of his art, which convey his experience being Japanese American, is said to have been inspired by several sources.\u00a0 One source that I found particularly interesting was his grandmother.\u00a0 Shimomura\u2019s grandmother, Toku Shimomura, was a picture bride.\u00a0 Picture brides, an entity that most Americans know nothing about, were some of the first Japanese and Korean women in America.\u00a0 These women were arranged into marriages by the sole exchange of pictures. They would arrive in America as complete strangers to their husband, customs, and the land.\u00a0 It was an undoubtedly terrifying experiencing for all the brides. However, with a bit of luck, some of these brides were able to rise to the occasion and become strong women in charge of their families, and even in some cases, communities.<\/p>\n

\"Picture<\/a>

Picture Brides and Toku (bottom-right)<\/p><\/div>\n

Toku Shimomura\u2019s tale is filled with courage, hard work, and a bit of good fortune.\u00a0 It began in a Tokyo silk factory where Toku and her future brother-in-law, Sabe, both worked.\u00a0 Sabe found her suitable for his brother in America, and proposed a picture marriage.\u00a0 She accepted.\u00a0 In 1920, Toku arrived in Seattle. There, she met her husband for the first time. \u00a0Similar to most picture brides\u2019 sentiments at the time, Toku felt disappointed with who met her at the harbor. However, as Roger stresses, his grandmother eventually overcame her initial dissatisfaction and soon fell in love with her arranged spouse.\u00a0 With the love and support she received from her husband, Toku was able to earn a midwifery license and begin her own private practice.<\/p>\n

\"Toku<\/a>

Toku Shimomura with her grandson, Roger.<\/p><\/div>\n

Toku\u2019s business boomed\u2014she eventually delivered over 1,000 babies, including her own grandson, Roger\u2014granting her economic power and status as the household breadwinner.\u00a0 Toku was heavily involved in the Japanese Methodist Church as a member of the choir. She even held the distinction as the first Japanese woman to acquire a driver\u2019s license in the United States. Toku took advantage of the opportunities available to her and was able to assert her strength as a woman. Her neighborhood looked upon her with respect and admiration. Mrs. Shimomura, a \u201cmatriarchal figure in a quiet way\u201d, as Roger reminisces, eventually ascended to the role as a leader of the community.\u00a0 With her passing in 1968, she left a lasting legacy in her hometown, the APA community, and, of course, as the artist\u2019s own personal inspiration.<\/p>\n

While Toku\u2019s story is certainly atypical of most picture brides (and women for that matter) at the time, it is a wonderful testament of female empowerment within the APA community.\u00a0 Many of Professor Shimomura\u2019s artistic renderings reflect her strength and elegance, and are an incredibly noble and honest tribute to his grandmother\u2019s memory.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Artwork by Roger Shimomura (1980): "Diary: December 12, 1941." Courtesy of Smithsonian American Art Museum.<\/p><\/div>\n

Related Links<\/strong><\/p>\n