Katsu

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As the sixth child, second daughter, of Sataro and Kin Kumasaka, Katsu Kumasaka (1895) was fortunate enough to attend the Presbyterian Mission School in Sendai, Japan. This was made possible because, at the time, her brother was going into Ministry and her father was a very active member of the church. This education proved to be invaluable when she immigrated to the United States in 1915. Her mission school background directed her to seek out other Christians; she joined the Catherine Blaine Home for women. This was the first step in life-long devotion to the Methodist Church.

Throughout her life, Katsu was characterized as being sincere and honest, Christian qualities which were obviously nurtured by her early education and the Christian influence of her father.

Her human compassion and sensitivity attracted others to confide easily in her.

While he was visiting the United States in 1910, Sataro gave Katsu in marriage to Toshihiko Senda (1009-1951) in a ceremony at the Seattle's United Methodist Church. Over the years, they had five children; Toshiko (1919), Kane (1921), Miyo (1922), Toki (1926) and Margaret (1934-1959).

Toshihiko Senda, the third son of Tokusaburo and Nobu Senda of Aichi-ken, Japan, was born on April 9, 1889, the seventh of nine children. Although he was born under wealthy circumstances, the family met with a series of misfortunes during his childhood. The most devastating was a great flood which ruined their vast land holdings and washed away their sake brewing business.

After completing middle school, Toshihiko and his older brother, Masutoki, ventured into Tokyo to attend Keio High School. While in lokyo, he made arrangements with the Furuya Company to work at their Seattle store. He was abour twenty years old when he journeyed across the Pacific to the United States in 1909.

At the time, the Furya Company was the largest importer and seller of Japanese goods in the northwest. In due time, Toshihiko and four other men, venturing out on their own, started the Asia Trading Company, 512 Maynard Avenue. They traveled to farms, sawmills and other outlaying rural areas, offering easy access to Japanese consumer products and other daily needs. It was not uncommon for the men to spend three weeks of the month on the road. Their business prospered so well, that in 1930, two of the partners, with their families and fortune, moved back to Japan. The remaining partners, Toshihiko, Mr. Seiki, and Mr. Hayashi, continued the business until wartime evacuation forced them to close down in 1942.

As with many Issei parents, Toshihiko and Katsu watched the war and evacuation slowly separate their family. One by one, their older children left to assume lives of their own. Upon release from the camps, the Senda's returned to their home on Charles Street in Seattle. In October, 1951, Toshihiko suffered a heart attack and passed away at the age of 62. With the passage of the 1952 McCarran-Walters bill, Katsu acquired her United States Citizenship in 1953.