Kevin Lee

Columnist

Kevin Lee is slumming it in the anachronistic industry of journalism. Before landing back in California, he had gigs covering politics in Illinois, Wisconsin and Texas. He's currently grappling with the decision of whether or not to buy a car.

From Hardship, A Relationship

Two Japanese Americans’ tale of survival during tough times

Sadako Kashiwagi cherishes a certain knitted charcoal-gray sweater she’s worn for more than 40 years. It was a gift from a store owner who had fallen on hard times and had to close shop. At the time, she and husband Hiroshi were just scraping by.

“It was given to me when I was working at a school library,” she said.

Working hard and raising three young sons, even borrowing money at times, Sadako and Hiroshi, now 78 and 89 years old, endured, which was certainly nothing new for the couple.