Family chooses apple pie and baseball
Japanese family relocates to area as destination of choice
BY SCOTT PAGE Gulf Breeze News Scott@gulfbreezenews.com

Lisa Newell/Gulf Breeze News The Hashida family, originally from Tokyo, Japan, are becoming a typical American family, spending evenings watching their sons play baseball.

The warm climate, aesthetic beauty and friendly residents of Gulf Breeze have always created regional appeal, but now it has earned international attention. Just ask one Japanese family that finally hit the jackpot in the green card lottery last year.

The United States government issues 55,000 green cards every year through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, generally known as the green card lottery.

Yuki and Akiko Hashida started playing the green card lottery in 1993. Fifteen years later, they are residents of Gulf Breeze, and have been for almost a year.

The Hashidas and their four sons, twins Ryusei, and Ryusho, 12, Ryoma, 10, and Tackey, seven, moved here last April from Tokyo, Japan, and expressed their surprise and joy upon receiving notification that they had "won" the lottery.

"[Upon receiving the letter] we couldn't even move," said Mrs. Hashida. "We opened the envelope and [realized] we had won. We were crying and couldn't believe it was true."

After completing the remainder of the visa process, which includes interviews with government officials and health exams, the Hashidas had to decide where in the U.S. they wanted to live. Luckily, they were no strangers to the states. In fact, they have probably experienced more of the country than the average American.

"We have traveled to over 20 states in the U.S.," Hashida said.

Akiko has also lived in the states an exchange student.

"I was one of two representatives of FHJ [Future Homemakers of Japan] to be an exchange student from 1985 to 1986, sponsored by Kikkoman steak and soy sauce company," said Hashida. "I lived at Don and Sandee Brown's farm at Davis, Ill., [and] graduated from Dakota High School in '86."

In 2000, the Hashidas traveled across the state of Florida. By chance, their adventure took them through Gulf Breeze. What they experienced made their decision to move here an easy one.

"We have visited almost every city in Florida, [but] after we have seen all these places, we made [the] decision to move to Gulf Breeze without any doubt."

"[When] we won the lottery, we had to figure out were we wanted to live," Mrs. Hashida said. "We didn't think of anywhere else. We thought [Gulf Breeze] was so beautiful so we came back."

Despite the fact that the Hashidas are familiar with the states and love their new home, they are still trying to adjust to a new environment and culture.

"It was surprising to see so many people driving and so few walking," said Hashida. For a family accustomed to the cramped city streets of Tokyo, where many people walk or ride bicycles, it is hard to understand the American obsession with automobiles.

Other aspects of life in this region of the world that goes unnoticed to the natives seem completely radical and foreign to newcomers like the Hashidas.

"We couldn't believe how fast the weather and temperature change," Hashida said. "It could be a sunny day in the morning and cloudy or raining before the end of the day.

"We were also surprised by how safe it is here. When we first got here, our spare key to our house didn't work, but one of our neighbors told us not to worry because everyone leaves their doors unlocked."

The children are also experiencing a great change, but the Hashidas feel that they have more opportunities here.

"The kids enjoy going to school, seeing friends who are all very nice to them, and playing baseball," Hashida said. "Of course, they seem to be missing their Japanese friends, but keep in good touch with them via email.

"I am very delighted and happy about how closely teachers, coaches and guidance [counselors] lead students here at GB."

The Hashidas miss certain aspects of the country they left behind, but say that what they've experienced here has helped them deal with the emotions.

"Not really much, because beautiful nature and wonderful people here make us very happy, which avoid us missing Japan," said Hashida, when asked what she missed about Japan. "Maybe some cooking ingredient, so, I grow some vegetables at our green house.

"We use the internet to keep in touch with our family and friends."

The Hashidas do not consider themselves a traditional Japanese family, but Akiko has begun an effort to mix traditional aspects of Japanese culture with American culture. She runs an online business where she sells her original products.

"I try to use a mix of Japanese traditional materials to make practical American products," Hashida said.

The Hashidas plan on pursuing their U.S. citizenship, but immigrants must wait at least five years to file. In the meantime, they are enjoying what they described as a dream come true, and are grateful to the people in Gulf Breeze and in Japan, who have helped make the move easier.

"I would like to take this opportunity to show our appreciation, for warm understanding of our move to America, to both of our parents and family in Japan and for the great help from all the people in Gulf Breeze," Hashida said.