Sharing History
Born the same year as the Club, longtime Member Clara Yonemoto looks back on a life touched by war, travel and the Club.
In the summer of 1928, when average temperatures were a full degree cooler, Yoshie “Clara” Yonemoto was born 5 kilometers north of the American Club’s inaugural Yurakucho quarters.
Yonemoto, who turns 90 in August, joined the Club in 1968. “Everyone was so nice,” she says. “And the hot dogs were so good.”
But the longtime Women’s Group member wasn’t particularly enamored with the original Azabudai facilities, which resembled “two army barracks,” or the swimming pool that seemed like nothing more than a water pump, according to Yonemoto.
What do you remember of your hometown?
My grandfather ran an ice-making company in Korea. When I was 2 years old, my family moved to Busan. I went to kindergarten, elementary school and girls’ school, graduating in 1945. Because of World War II, my father secured a ship and—with only a few personal belongings—sent me back to Japan.
How did you get the name Clara?
When I escaped from Busan, I moved to Osaka and attended a vocational school. I had no money and little food. I thought about joining the Catholic Church as a nun. [Instead,] I completed school and, in 1947, I was baptized at a small church in Osaka. My birthday is August 29, and August’s saint is Clara. When I moved to the US, Clara was an easy name for people to associate with.
How did you meet your husband?
I went to the Osaka University College of Medicine as an auditing student and studied tuberculosis. I wanted to study in the US. I was told to study English first, and I ended up working in an army hospital as a pathology technician. My husband worked at the same lab as a blood analysis technician. Dr ED Peasley, our chief, was our matchmaker.
What is your strongest memory of the United States?
My husband worked at a pharmaceutical company and he opened a new office in Manhattan. During the six years in the US, my best memories were spending Thanksgiving at Dr Peasley’s house [in North Carolina]. He was like a father to me.
Why did you join Tokyo American Club?
When we returned to Japan in 1968, the executive managing director of the pharmaceutical company recommended we join the Club. He knew my husband was studying American history. We had visited Amish and Shaker communities, California missions, Indian reservations and various historical sites.
What is your best Club memory?
The most enjoyable thing was the Christmas dinner with my husband, three sons and friends. As a Women’s Group member, I met many good friends. If you think about the American club, it is a peaceful, active community, with people from more than 50 countries. It may be said that Tokyo American Club is a small republic full of peace, cleanliness and kindness.
Words: Nick Narigon
Image: Yuuki Ide
