When he was still a child, Iwatake's father was lost at sea off Hawaii. With no food, his family was forced to move to Japan, where Iwatake joined the army during the war. He lost a brother when the bomb fell on Hiroshima. But over all the time one thing has remained unchanged. His parents bought a Christmas tree in 1937, and his family brings it out every Christmas since then, even when doing so meat risking arrest. "This tree was a shining light, because it was a symbol of unity in my family," Iwatake said as he and his wife put the final touches on the tree, which is about 3 - foot - tall. They took it out once again this year, "We have put this tree up every year for 70 years." Though he considers himself Buddhist, Iwatake was raised in a Christian tradition. He still keeps a photo of the tiny wooden church in Mauri where he and his five brothers went to church services and Sunday school. Christmas was always a special time. His father worked at a store, and Iwatake remembers the day he came home with a tree. It was nothing all that special, just metal - and - plastic, the kind of decoration that can easily be placed on a table, or in a corner somewhere. He got a string of lights, too, the kind with the big bulbs . Soon after, his father died in a fishing accident. His body was never found. Iwatake's mother had s in Japan, and took Iwatake's younger brothers there. Iwatake stayed behind to graduate from high school. In 1941, six months before Pearl Harbor , he moved to Japan as well. "Things were bad," he said. "There were war clouds hanging everywhere."
When he was still a child , Iwatake 's father was lost at sea off Hawaii . With no food , his family was forced to move to Japan , where Iwatake joined the army during the war . He lost a brother when the bomb fell on Hiroshima . But over all the time one thing has remained unchanged . His parents bought a Christmas tree in 1937 , and his family brings it out every Christmas since then , even when doing so meat risking arrest . " This tree was a shining light , because it was a symbol of unity in my family , " Iwatake said as he and his wife put the final touches on the tree , which is about 3 - foot - tall . They took it out once again this year , " We have put this tree up every year for 70 years . " Though he considers himself Buddhist , Iwatake was raised in a Christian tradition . He still keeps a photo of the tiny wooden church in Mauri where he and his five brothers went to church services and Sunday school . Christmas was always a special time . His father worked at a store , and Iwatake remembers the day he came home with a tree . It was nothing all that special , just metal - and - plastic , the kind of decoration that can easily be placed on a table , or in a corner somewhere . He got a string of lights , too , the kind with the big bulbs . Soon after , his father died in a fishing accident . His body was never found . Iwatake 's mother had s in Japan , and took Iwatake 's younger brothers there . Iwatake stayed behind to graduate from high school . In 1941 , six months before Pearl Harbor , he moved to Japan as well . " Things were bad , " he said . " There were war clouds hanging everywhere . "
What caused the death of Iwatake's father?
What caused the death of Iwatake 's father ?
An accident.
An accident.