It was about 20 years ago that I discovered the first of many Takahashi bird brooches I would have the privilege of passing along to a client who would cherish it as much as I did. At the time, I knew little about these carved birds or the remarkable story of how a single historic event forever shaped the future of the Takahashi family.
The story of the Takahashi birds is a remarkable one about family and perseverance. Much of what we know today about the rich history of these remarkable birds is known because of the generosity of Carol Takahashi. She has been gracious with sharing information and documents outlining the journey of the 45 years of her grandparents’ jewelry artistry.
One of those early brooches came with an original Takahashi card. After I posted the brooch on my shop website, that small detail led to a phone call from Carol Takahashi. She kindly shared a bit of its history with me. She explained that the address on the card, 13042 Century Blvd., marked it as one of the earliest birds, as the Takahashi family moved to 11081 Crosby Avenue in 1955.
These bird brooches were crafted by Carol’s grandparents, Yoneguma and Kiyoka Takahashi. Although jewelry making was not their original occupation. They had previously owned and operated a fruit stand in Orange County, California. Then came the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and with that the United States entered WWII. As for most Japanese Americans, life began to dramatically change soon after.
On March 18, 1942, President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9102, establishing the War Relocation Authority. This order mandated the relocation of all people of Japanese ancestry living on the West Coast. By the end of May 1942, Yoneguma and Kiyoka Takahashi along with their three sons were relocated to Poston, an internment camp in the Arizona desert. They would spend the next three and a half years there.
It was during their time at Poston that the Takahashis were introduced to the craft that would later define their legacy. Most camps had bird carving classes and in 1945 the Takahashis enrolled in one such class. When the camps were ordered to close, the family returned to Garden Grove, California. It was there that they began their bird brooch business. Drawing inspiration from John James Audubon’s Birds of America, they selected their subjects. Yoneguma carved each bird by hand, while Kiyoka brought them to life with detailed painting.
For the next 45 years, the Takahashi family successfully built and maintained their bird pin business. It wasn’t until the 1990s that they decided to retire, when Kiyoka began to lose fine motor control due to Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Over the past 20 years, I’ve had the privilege of encountering many of these miniature works of art. From the rarest examples to the more common designs, each piece is slightly unique which reflects its handmade craftsmanship by the Takahashis. What I love most about these birds is the way they touch people’s lives. So many clients have shared heartfelt stories with me: a bird that reminds them of a beloved grandparent, a keepsake from their youth, or a memory of a visit to the U.S. when they first encountered a hummingbird. These pieces may be jewelry, but they hold a much deeper meaning for their owners. They serve as tokens of memory, love, and connection.
Pictured below are some examples of the rarer Takahashi birds that have passed through my hands. I hope you enjoy seeing them as much as I have enjoyed sharing them.
If you happen to come across a painted bird brooch, it’s worth noting that many Takahashi birds are not signed but can be identified by the use of push pins, not screws, to attach the pin back. On the occasion that a bird is signed, most signatures are variations of the initials K.T.
The information compiled by Julia C. Carroll and Carol Takahashi in The Inspiring Story of Takahashi Bird Pins was an invaluable reference for this post. This book has since become a treasured collectible.
