Tokutaru Takami (1869-1954). Section D, block 5, lot 11, grave 2.

Shige Takami (1875-1950). Section D, Block 5, lot 11, grave 1.

Shigeo (1916-2012) and Mitsuno (1923-1972) Takami. Section D, Block 5, lot 11, grave 3.

Tokutaru and Shige Takami were the first recorded Japanese residents of the Jacksonville Beaches. They had five children: Hatsu, Shizu, Yoshi, Suye, and Shigeo, also known as Joe. Tokutaro and Shige Takami are memorialized here alongside their son Shigeo and his wife Mitsuno.

While living in Jacksonville, Tokutaru operated a shooting gallery and later a general store. He eventually moved his family to Pablo Beach, where he opened a grocery store. After Shige's passing, Tokutaru returned to Japan, where he spent the remaining years of his life.

Shigeo "Joe" Takami served in the United States Army during the second World War. After his period of service, he ran the family store until starting a bar at the same location with grocery business partner Benny Nishiyama. With his wife Mitsuno, Shigeo also opened Takami Apartments, located above the bar.

Tokutaro Takami left Hiroshima in 1900 and entered the United States by way of Seattle, Washington and settled in Brooklyn, New York, with his in-laws, the Miyanagas. In 1906, his wife Shige and daughter Hatsu immigrated and the reunited Takami family joined their in-laws, the Miyanagas, in Providence, Rhode Island. In 1908, the Takamis and Miyanagas moved to Jacksonville.

While the Miyanagas do not appear on the 1910 census and are likely to have departed from Florida, the Takamis made Jacksonville their home and their next four children were born there.

Middle daughters Shizu, Yoshi, and Suye attended boarding school in Japan beginning in 1919. Their eldest, Hatsu, married Harry Kimuya. The Takamis and their new in-laws the Kimuras appear in the 1920 census for Pablo Beach, making them the only and earliest known Japanese families at the Beaches.

In 1922, Tokutaro Takami opened Takami Department Store on 227 Pablo Avenue, offering "choice groceries at reasonable prices," such as a pound of rice or sugar for seven cents. Harry and Hatsu Kimura moved away by 1925, but again Tokutaru and Shige Takami stayed. Their middle daughters returned after cultural schooling and attended Jacksonville Beach Elementary, as did youngest son, Shigeo "Joe" Takami.

By 1940, Shigeo graduated from the University of Florida and took over the family grocery store business with help from brother-in-law and former Donald Ikumo Oishi. In 1945, he joined the United States Army and served in Military Intelligence as a translator until 1947. One year later, he married Mitsuno "Mitsi" Tanaka. Together they managed Takami Apartments above their family store, which later became Benny's Snack Bar.

Oishi, Elsie. "The Rising Sun in the Sunshine State: The Exhibit Story." Beaches Branch Library. 9 June 2015.

Leni, Bessette and Louise Stanton Warren. "From Our Past: 1900s settlement drew Japanese to Florida." River City News. 10 July 2004.

Woodhouse, Johnny. "Oishi Celebrates her Japanese-American heritage at Neptune Beach Public Library." Beaches Leader. 14 June 2015.