Cal Poly announced on May 11 the story of the Ikeda family, focusing on brothers Kazuo, Seirin, and Saburo, whose contributions to baseball and agriculture have shaped the Central Coast community. The narrative traces their journey from early years in Arroyo Grande through adversity during World War II and their continued legacy in local sports and farming.
The story matters because it reflects both the achievements of Japanese-American families in California and the hardships they faced due to wartime policies. The Ikeda family’s experience is emblematic of broader struggles faced by many Japanese Americans during this period.
Juzo Ikeda, who immigrated from Japan in 1905, taught his sons baseball as a way to reconnect with American culture after their return from schooling in Japan. With help from friends like Bill Arakawa and Vard Loomis, Juzo coached his sons as they became prominent athletes at Cal Poly. Kazuo majored in Farm Crops while Seirin studied Agricultural Mechanics; both quickly became varsity stars for Cal Poly’s baseball team. Their skill was recognized by sports reporters who wrote that “Seirin Ikeda played sensationally at shortstop for the local collegians” and highlighted his consistent performance at bat.
The onset of World War II dramatically altered their lives when Executive Order 9066 forced them off their land due to their Japanese ancestry. The family lost property and was incarcerated at Tulare Assembly Center before being moved to Gila River Relocation Center in Arizona. Conditions were harsh; according to oral histories collected by Cal Poly’s Ethnic Studies department, Kazuo remembered living spaces still dirty with manure upon arrival at Tulare. Despite these challenges, members of the community—including Kenichi “Zenny” Zenimura—organized baseball games within camps to maintain morale.
After release from incarceration near war’s end, Juzo had died but Kazuo returned home with help from Loomis who had safeguarded their land. Rebuilding was slow but successful: by 1948 they restored full farm operations; later generations continued both farming—through organizations like Pismo Oceano Vegetable Exchange—and coaching youth baseball locally.
Today, descendants such as Tom Ikeda remain active leaders in agriculture while Clyde Ikeda recalls working alongside family members on weekends washing produce or playing for teams coached by his father or uncles: “As in farming, you need to know the basis, the fundamentals to create a winning, successful environment.” The enduring impact of the Ikedas is seen through ongoing contributions not only to local agriculture but also youth sports across San Luis Obispo County.
