Timeline
1852
February
20th
1858
Born in Kagoshima Japan
Enters Goju school (age 7)
1864
July
Kaiseijo College established to teach Western Studies
Kanaye enrolls as a freshman at age 12 under a government
scholarship to study the English language and British studies
1865
February
13th
Orders for his departure and inclusion into the “Satsuma fifteen” were given by
the Daimyo
April 17th
Group secretly departs Japan
All members change names to protect families
June 21st
Arrive Southampton England.
Leave for London by train on the same afternoon.
August
19th
Sent to Gymnasium in Aberdeen Scotland
He is seen as too young to attend University
The rest of the Satsuma 15 attend University College London
Kanaye excels at his studies in Scotland.
Early
Summer
Funds become thin for the group. Kanaye returns to London.
August
Satsuma students meet Thomas Lake Harris, by introduction of Mr. and Mrs.
Lawrence Oliphant – members of Harris’s religious group Brotherhood of the
New Life. Harris agrees to take several of the remaining Satsuma students under
his wing in Brocton, New York to continue their education.
1867
Thomas Lake Harris (1823 – 1906) was an Anglo-American preacher,
spiritualistic prophet, poet, and vintner. Harris is best remembered as the leader
of a series of communal religious experiments, culminating with a group called
the Brotherhood of the New Life in Santa Rosa, California.
Oct. 14th
1868
1870
The Meiji Restoration
Several Satsuma students travel from Britain to Brocton, New York to stay at the
Brotherhood of the New Life Colony. Others return to Japan to assist with the
restoration. After a few months Kanaye is the only Satsuma student left in the
colony. He begins to learn agriculture, viticulture, and business.
Fall
1871
Attends Cornell University to study science (agriculture) Fall only – does not
return after the holidays
Travels to Europe and England with Thomas Lake Harris, occasionally acting as
private secretary.
-- France “To study the social situation after the Franco-Prussian War” per
orders from Japan.
19 July 1870 - 19 May 1871 - Franco-Prussian War
-- Scotland, England, Possibly stayed at the gymnasium (record of re-entrance
there in 1871-2)
-- Returns to the United States in the Fall
1875
February July
Travels to California with Harris, Mrs. Requa (and eleven-year old son), and
Arai (printer) to find new location for Brotherhood colony. Kanaye age 23
July
Fountaingrove established. 400 acres initially - more added within the next few
years.
1878
Vine planting completed. (400 acres)
50 acres pasture for animals, 175 hay/grain, 200 olive and fruit trees.
Acreage eventually expanded to just over two-thousand acres by 1890’s
1881
Oliphant and Harris fall out over funds. Brocton Colony requires liquidation.
1882
Stone winery completed
1880s
Kanaye Nagasawa begins to advocate for Japanese immigration to America.
Works with Chinda Sutemi – Japanese Consul in San Francisco (also a close
friend)
1892
February
Harris and his new wife leave for New York after the 1891-2 Alize Chevailler
scandal.
Harris places control of the estate in Nagasawa’s hands.
Kanaye Nagasawa, age 41, always in charge of the winery and other
agricultural production, is now officially acknowledged in charge of estate
locally and internationally.
1893
Fountaingrove’s Cabernet Sauvignon takes second place at the 1893 State Wine
Exhibit at San Francisco’s Midwinter Fair
1895
Kanaye Nagasawa introduces cattle and horse-breeding (Arabian, Percheron,
Throughbred) to the estate.
1896
Fountaingrove participates in University of California’s College of Agriculture
experimental station program.
1896
Nephew Tomoki Ijichi joins Kanaye Nagasawa at Fountaingrove
1897
Returns to Kagoshima for the first time since leaving in 1865.
Imports 10,000 mulberry trees to produce silk. Successful venture, but
discontinued.
-- most likely one of earliest attempts in California
-- in 1902 Japanese consul Uyeno was excited over the quality of Nagasawa’s
silk and sent it to be made into kimonos by Kyoto Mishijin, a famous kimono
maker.
Devises plan for a Japanese colony in Mexico for 250,000 Japanese on 2500
square miles of land.
Established Mexico North West Company, and obtains permission from
Mexican Government.
Petitions Japanese government for two-million dollars, of 3.5 million total to
fund enterprise.
Plan ultimately failed, but only fueled Nagasawa’s intent to help his fellow
Japanese.
1899
Round Barn erected. Built to house sixty horses.
Structure still stands. It can be seen from the Corner of Mendocino Ave and
Round Barn Blvd.
1900
Fountaingrove is sold for $40,000 (fraction of its worth) to five members of the
Brotherhood.
Kanaye Nagasawa, Miss Eusardia Nicholas,, Miss Edith Parting – residing at
Fountaingrove
and Mary and Robert Hart residing with the Harris’s in New York.
with a proviso that the last living purchaser could dispose of the property as they
saw fit.
1904
Travels to Florida to see Harris, who is dying
1906
Thomas Lake Harris dies
Mrs. Harris and the Harts return to Fountaingrove
1906/7
Phyloxxera vasatrix attacks the Fountaingrove vineyards
1908/9
Mrs. Harris and the Harts depart Fountaingrove for San Diego over a dispute
regarding business matters
Robert Hart declares he has no further interest in the Fountain Grove Vineyard
Company or the estate.
1910
Trip to Japan, Eldest brother Yanosuke Akahoshi presents him with a Samurai
sword that had been owned by a Shogun
1911
Replanting of the vines complete (a Phyloxxera vasatrix resistant stock) 400
acres bearing again.
Miss Edith Parting dies. Kanaye Nagasawa now considered sole owner of
Fountaingrove.
1915
Serves on the Panama Pacific International Expedition Jury of Awards at the
request of the Commissioner General of Japan. Due to his expert knowledge of
wines, agriculture, and the good impression he made about the ability, industry,
and refined charm of the Japanese people along with his good impression upon
the people of the United States.
1916
Mrs. Harris dies.
Control of the Brotherhood Trust passes to Mary Hart, instead of Kanaye
Nagasawa as directed in Thomas Lake Harris’s will.
Mary Hart is declared insane by her husband Robert Hart and incarcerated.
Trip to Japan – returns with daughter-in-law Hiro (wife to Tomoki)
1917
1917
th
March 16
Tomoki and Hiro Ijichi married at Founatingrove
1918
Nagasawa Active Member of the Board of advisors for the Japanese Agricultural
Society (join date unknown)
1919
Kosuke Ijichi born (Kanaye’s grand-nephew)
Robert Hart threatens to sue Kanaye for profits from estate.
Kanaye sends agent to San Diego with proof of Hart’s embezzlement from
estate.
Hart signs Quit Claim deed.
January
16th
1923
1924
Prohibition 19th Amendment (Jan 16, 1919 - Dec 5, 1933)
During this period Fountaingrove vineyards marketed grape juice,
cooking sherry, and a port win based tonic (beef)
At private gatherings and entertainments, Kanaye Nagasawa serves his
guests from his private stock. (wine and liquor)
Trip to Japan
February
11th
Kanaye Nagasawa awarded the “Decoration of the Order of the Rising Sun” in
recognition of his work and participation in the Panama-Pacific Exposition in an
elaborate ceremony at Fountaingrove at the request of the Japanese Emperor.
1927
Amy Ijichi born (Kanaye Nagasawa’s great-niece)
1928
Awarded the Commemorative Medal of the Grand Ceremony of the Accession
of Emperor Hirohito
1929
1931
October
Great Depression begins
Robert Hart sues for possession of Fountaingrove and related funds.
The California Supreme Court rules that Kanaye Nagasawa owns the property.
California, Supreme Court of. 1933. Hart V. Kanaye Nagasawa. In 218 Cal.
685 (Cal. 1933)
1933
December
5th
Prohibition Repealed 21st Amendment
1934
March 1st
Kanaye Nagasawa dies after an illness in his bed at Fountaingrove, age 82.
He is cremated and his ashes now reside in the Buddhist temple in
Kagoshima Japan.
1936
December
Fountaingrove sold for $118,050.00 ($1,939,405.29 in 2015 US Currency)
Currency conversion courtesy of http://www.usinflationcalculator.com/
19??
The Fifth order of the Sacred Treasure awarded posthumously by the Japanese
Emperor
National and State Laws
1907
Anti-Alien Laws (Federal and State)
Gentleman’s Agreement regarding immigration between the United States and Japan (Theodore
Roosevelt). It was never ratified by the U.S. Congress.
Japan takes steps to protect its citizens and agrees to limit or restrict immigration to the
United States, thus easing international tensions.
1913
The California Alien Land Law of 1913 (aka Webb-Haney Act)
Prohibits "aliens ineligible for citizenship" from owning agricultural land or possessing
long-term leases, but permits leases lasting up to three years. Effects many nationalities
but primarily directed at the Japanese.
1920
The California Alien Land Law of 1920
Enhances the 1913 law and fills many of its loopholes such as:
- the leasing of land for a period of three years or less was no longer allowed
- owning of stock in companies that acquired agricultural land was forbidden
- guardians or agents of ineligible aliens were required to submit an annual report on
their activities
The 1920 Alien Land Law was passed in reaction to an intensification of anti-Japanese
sentiment and that the 1913 law was ineffective in stemming Japanese immigration to
California.
Approved by voters, with a vote of 668,438 to 222,086 .
The 1920 law was amended in 1923 to further fill wording-related loopholes:
If a person purchased land in another person’s name, it would be presumed that this was done
with intent to bypass the Alien Land Law. This was a significant shift in the rules regarding
burden of proof in state escheat cases involving land. Whereas before the State would have to
prove its case, this was no longer the situation – it was now incumbent upon the defendant to
prove that the purchased land was a bona fide gift rather than an attempt at getting around the
land ownership restrictions.
Another, even more stringent provision introduced in the 1920 law prohibited assigning
persons ineligible for naturalization as guardians of estate. The California Supreme Court,
however, invalidated this prohibition in the 1922 Yano case (Estate of Tetsubmi Yano, 188 Cal.
645).
1923
The California Alien Land Law of 1923
1924
The Immigration Act of 1924 (Johnson–Reed Act) including the National Origins Act, and
Asian Exclusion Act (Pub.L. 68–139, 43 Stat. 153, enacted May 26, 1924)
A United States federal law limiting the annual number of immigrants who could be
admitted from any country to 2% of the number of people from that country who were
already living in the United States in 1890, down from the 3% cap set by the Immigration
Restriction Act of 1921, according to the Census of 1890. It superseded the 1921
Emergency Quota Act.
Primarily aimed at further restricting immigration of Southern Europeans and Eastern
Europeans. In addition, it severely restricted the immigration of Africans and prohibited the
immigration of Arabs, East Asians, and Indians. According to the U.S. Department of State
Office of the Historian the purpose of the act was "to preserve the ideal of American
homogeneity."
— The Immigration Act made permanent the basic limitations on immigration into the
United States established in 1921 and modified the National Origins Formula established
then. In conjunction with the Immigration Act of 1917, it governed American immigration
policy until the passage of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, which revised it
completely.
* The Alien Land Laws were invalidated in 1952 by the Supreme Court of California as a
violation of the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment to the United States
Constitution in Sei Fujii v. California
Congress, 68th United States. 1924. 1924 Immigration Act. In H.R. 7995; Pub.L. 68-139; 43 Stat. 153.
Washington, D.C.: United States Congress.
Congress, 67th United States. 1921. 1921 Emergency Quota Law. In H.R. 4075; Pub.L. 67-5; 42 Stat. 5.
Washington, D.C.: United States Congress.
Initially the Alien Land Acts and Laws did not affect Kanaye Nagasawa. His ownership of Fountaingrove predated all of these laws, and was considered “grand-fathered” in and never in dispute. However as time moved
on and anti-Japanese sentiment rose, his ability to pass his property to his nephew became impossible. Thus
like many other Japanese he settled on leaving it to his grand-nephew Kosuke, with his nephew as guardian.
Kosuke, born an American citizen could inherit. However as the laws became more restrictive this too became
impossible. He was left with no way to leave his lifework and vast estate and business directly to his designated
heirs, he would have to appoint someone outside the family. Something he was reluctant to do.
In the end he left his estate and funeral arrangements in the hands of his longtime friend and lawyer Wallace
Ware, who sold the estate for a devalued $118,050.00 in 1936. After claims against the estate, including loans,
attorney’s fees and funeral expenses were taken out, an amount totaling $66,160.00 remained. The remaining
balance was to be shared between the heirs and Ware given his $25,000 as stated in the will. However in 1937
the probate court awarded Ware an additional sum of $37,672.88 for “extraordinary costs” and found the claim
fair, despite the claim from the family that he had not earned such a sum, giving Ware a total of $62,672.88
from Kanaye’s estate. After these deductions only $3487.12 was left to divide amongst Kanaye’s thirteen heirs,
or $264.24 per share/each.
Furthermore, the family was only given twenty-four hours notice to vacate the estate and collect any items or
memorabilia they could take with them. Kanaye’s family and heirs were quite angry at the treatment of the
estate and themselves for many years.