Reverend Kono was born in Japan in 1898. He came to the United States in 1911 to join his father who had been here since 1902. His two brothers and three sisters did not come to the United States. He worked on a farm for seven years and took correspondence courses to finish Japanese high school. He had originally hoped to return to Japan, but he decided to remain in the United States and help fight the anti-Japanese movement.
Tape recorded interview conducted by Dolores Goto on 4 Nov 1970; CD-ROM user copy.
Reverend Kono describes his emigration from Japan under a "gentlemen's agreement" whereby one had to have a relative in the United States in order to immigrate. He describes his conversion from Buddhism to Christianity and his subsequent ministry which began in San Jose in 1929. He came to Seattle in 1954 where he ministered to the Japanese community and worked against gambling.
Access restricted: For terms of access, contact Special Collections
Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.
Donated by I. Kono, 11/4/1970