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| Aki "Sunny" Otani |
Aki Sanaye Kitahata (Poston 318-11-C) was born on April 4, 1919 in Dinuba, California to Japanese immigrant parents. Her father, Kintaro Kitahata was a farm laborer who immigrated in 1900 to the U.S.. Her mother, Kachiko (Obara) Kitahata, immigrated in 1912, and became a naturalized citizen on 11/11/1954, while living in Cleveland.
Aki S. Kitahata was raised in Reedley and attended schools. Her sister, Tayeko graduated from Reedley High School in 1939. Aki, and her parents, and siblings, Tayeko, Suyiye, Tomiye, Shinichi Ben and Aiko, were evacuated from Reedley. They arrived at Parker, Arizona railroad station on August 6, 1942 and were transported in the desert to their living quarters at the Poston, Arizona internment camp (318-11-C). Meanwhile, Henry Chikao Kitahata was evacuated to the Gila, Arizona internment camp. Sumiye Kitahata left Poston on November 16, 1943 after finding employment at Shaker Heights, Ohio. On August 10, 1943, Tomiye Kitahata left Poston after finding employment in St Paul, Minnesota. Tayeko Kitahata was married in December 1943 to Ray K. Umade. Tayeko found employment in Baltimore, and left oston on February 5, 1944. Her marriage later ended in divorce in 1974.
Aki's brother, Ben Kitahata graduated with the Parker Valley High School class of 1945, and went to work in Cleveland on June 1945. The last of the Kitahata family to leave Poston were their parents and youngest sister, Aiko. They left on September 11, 1945 and joined Ben who was already settled in Cleveland. Meanwhile, Aki Kitahata found employment in Chicago, and in 1947, she married Harry Otani, formerly of Visalia.
In 1954, Aki & Harry Otani moved to the Monterey Peninsula in California, where they raised their two sons, Michael and Larry. Aki was employed in domestic work for Mr. & Mrs. S.F.B. Morse, Mr. Milton Coburn, the Duchess of Manchester, Colonel & Mrs. A. Griffin, and Mrs. A.C. Castle, her last employer for whom she was employed for over 40 years. Aki Otani, lovingly known as "Sunny" to her friends and family, died at the age of 89 years, on January 25, 2009 in Monterey. She was preceded in death by her husband, Tetsuo "Harry" Otani; sister, Tayeko "Tykie" Umade (1999) and older brother, Henry C. Kitahata (2002); and father, Kintaro (1961) and mother.
She is survived by her sons, Michael Otani of Pacific Grove, CA and Larry Otani of El Segundo, CA; her sisters, Tomiye Tanaka of Seaside, CA, Aiko Matsuno of Torrance and Sumi Ujimori of Upland, CA; her brother, Ben Kitahata of El Monte, CA.
She is survived by her sons, Michael Otani of Pacific Grove, CA and Larry Otani of El Segundo, CA; her sisters, Tomiye Tanaka of Seaside, CA, Aiko Matsuno of Torrance and Sumi Ujimori of Upland, CA; her brother, Ben Kitahata of El Monte, CA.
Sources: The Monterey Herald, January 29, 2009
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/montereyherald/obituary.aspx?n=aki-otani-sunny&pid=123467250&fhid=6695
