Fountaingrove Winemaker and the Order of the Rising Sun
Kanaye Nagaswa may not have founded the winery, but he was the one who made the wine and the winery what it was. Nagasawa and four other members later purchased the winery from Harris in 1900. Their were lots of Japanese Issei who farmed lots of farms in California, and many of them where in charge of it’s operation and managment, even if their was another landowner during those day’s and even later.
This is a great story, and their are other stories of rice farmers as well, many lost their land when it was confiscated during WWII, and had to fight to get it back or even buy it back.
Does anyone know why Nagasawa changed his name?
Kanaye Nagasawa – DiscoverNikkei.org
The Life of Kanaye Nagasawa Samurai of Kagoshima, Winemaker of Fountaingrove, Santa Rosa, California
February 20, 1852 Birth and Training Hikosuke Isonaga (changed to Kanaye Nagasawa) was born in Kagoshima, Satsuma, Japan. Son of a Samurai, his martial arts training began at 10 years, and he was a skilled warrior by 13. He was a brilliant student with a phenomenal memory.
February 13, 1865 Ordered to England Fifteen students, including Hikosuke, were ordered to go to England by the Daimyo of Satsuma to study Western ways and technology. This was in anticipation of the opening of Japan to westerners when such knowledge would be vital.
February 15, 1865 Awaiting Their Ship The student group went into hiding in Hashima Village. They were fugitives as they were planning to violate the Shogun’s prohibition against going overseas. All assumed new names and anxiously waited two months for their ship.
April 17, 1865 Voyage The ship arrived, and their 65 day voyage began. All arrangements were made by Thomas Berry Glover, a Scot, who was a successful merchant in Nagasaki.
June 21, 1865 Arrival Early in the morning their ship docked at Southampton. In the afternoon they went to London by train and were amazed at the splendid sights.
August 19, 1865 Sent to Scotland At thirteen, Nagasawa was too young to enter the University with the other students. He was sent to Aberdeen, Scotland, to live with the parents of Thomas Glover. There he entered secondary school, and records show that he was a top student.
Summer 1867 Funds Decreased In anticipation of the overthrow of the Shogunate, Satsuma increased its armament expenditures. Funds for the students decreased, and their economic situation was tenuous. All but six returned to Kagoshima.
August 1867 Thomas Lake Harris The students met Thomas Lake Harris, leader of the Brotherhood of the New Life cult in the USA. He offered them continued education in exchange for labor in his New York colony. Nagasawa and his fellow students accepted and crossed the Atlantic with Harris.
October 14, 1867 Meiji Restoration Secret orders were given by the Emperor to the Daimyo of Satsuma and Choshu to overthrow the Shogunate. The Meiji Restoration began. Emperor Meiji ascended the throne in 1868 and ruled until his death in 1912.
1867 – 1875 Brockton, New York Harris took the students to the Brotherhood’s colony in Brocton. The vineyards were a classroom for young Nagasawa, and he learned viticulture from an expert. In 1868 all but Nagasawa returned to Kagoshima for patriotic reasons.
July 1875 Fountaingrove Harris, Nagasawa and three others arrived in Santa Rosa seeking a new site for the colony. Four hundred acres north of Santa Rosa were purchased for $50 an acre. Construction began immediately on the Fountaingrove Ranch buildings. Later more acreage was added. [read more]
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