Dr Edward Hashimoto Became Known as the Ambidextrous Irishman Following the Bombing of Pearl Harbor

The Ambidextrous Irishman - Dr. Edward Hashimoto ca. 1980s.
From Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library, University of Utah

Continued from previous post

In 1911, E.D. and Lois’s only child, Edward Ichiro Hashimoto was born, he often went by the name “Eddie” and became a physician practicing family medicine out of this home and teaching gross anatomy at the University of Utah School of Medicine for 53 years.

E.D. died in 1936, before WWII, leaving his widow and his son living in the house through the war years.

Eddie and Lois were not subject to Japanese relocation policies during WWII and continued owning and living in their house.

In his oral history, Dr. Eddie said if his father were still alive his father would certainly have been interred because he was such as prominent Japanese businessman. Dr. Eddie was working for the University of Utah at the time of the war and said he was under the protective wing of the University. The University even obtained a waiver from the draft for Dr. Eddie because he was the University’s only teacher of anatomy at the time.

Dr. Eddie tells a story about him returning to teach anatomy the day after Pearl Harbor. He entered his classroom and said “What are you fellows staring at? I’m Irish. I was home in Dublin at the time!” Everyone laughed and moved on. Dr. Hashimoto was also known for drawing human figures with both hands simultaneously and became known as the “Ambidextrous Irishman.”

Dr. Eddie said he wasn’t really affected by the prejudices during WWII. Only one time was he wrongly detained for fear that he might sabotage a water pump. But he promptly called his friend the Utah Attorney General and was immediately released with an apology.

Dr. Eddie saw many patients out of his medical office in the basement of his home. He died in 1987. The house continues to be owned by the Hashimoto family.

Sources: Peoples of Utah; Japanese Americans in Utah; Oral Histories of Hashimoto family; SL Herald June 3 1909.

Young Dr. Hashimoto in his car on 1200 East, 1926.
(Duplex in background is 302-304 S. 1200 East).
From the book Japanese Americans in Utah. 

Party at the Hashimoto house 1926. From Marriott Library, University of Utah.

E.D. Hashimoto and his Japanese Style House at 315 S 1200 East SLC

Hashimoto family house located at 315 S 1200 East SLC

This is the Hashimoto family house located at 315 S 1200 East SLC. It was designed by architect A. J. Hamilton in 1909 for Edward Daigoro Hashimoto (1875-1936) and his family.

E.D. Hashimoto was the nephew of Yozo Yashimoto (see previous post) who brought him over from Japan when E.D. was 15. He was immediately sent to work as a cook for the railroad in Montana. He didn’t last long: first, he didn’t know how to cook, and second, the Yellow Peril Vigilantes drove out and killed most Asians working the railroad. E.D. hid from the vigilantes and then walked to SLC.

In 1902 he established the E. D. Hashimoto company at 163 W South Temple. By then he was known as “Daigoro Sama” (Great Man) to the Japanese and “E.D.” to American business associates. Like his uncle, E.D.’s company supplied Japanese labor, food, and clothing and ran his business out of SLC's old Japantown.

E.D. was involved in other business opportunities including mining, board of directors of Tracy Collins Trust and Bank, and started Red Feather Bus Line which is now Grayhound Bus Lines. He also supplied Mexican labor and was an honorary Mexican consul in Utah.

E.D. built the family house in 1909. E.D. wanted a Japanese-style house on the exterior, hence the curved roofs and shoji-style windows, but the inside was entirely Western and was furnished with Mormon antiques by his wife Lois.

Many dignitaries were hosted in his home including President Taft who visited SLC in Sept 1909. And he often hosted Governor Spry.

The Hashimoto story continues in the next post.

Sources: Peoples of Utah; Japanese Americans in Utah; Oral Histories of Hashimoto family; SL Herald June 3 1909.

E.D. Hashimoto in 1914. From Men of Affairs in Utah.