Domoto, Toichi, 1902-

Toichi Domoto was the son of first generation immigrants from Japan who settled in California. Arriving in 1883, his father and uncle worked first as laborers and within a year were able to lease and then purchase a few acres of land in Oakland, founding the Domoto Brothers Nursery in 1884. They first specialized in the cut flower trade, and later, as pioneers in California's nursery business, they were responsible for the first plant importation of many important Japanese horticultural varieties of camellias, tree peonies, and chrysanthemums. They eventually specialized in trees, shrubs, climbing vines, roses, palms and ferns. Born in 1902 in Oakland, Toichi studied at Stanford University and the University of Illinois before joining his father's and uncle's business. He later bought 27 acres of land in Hayward and started his own nursery. His first catalog featured camellias and tree peonies, as well as magnolias, water iris, flowering quince and bonsai. He was interned with his family during World War II, but then returned to his Hayward nursery and continued living there until his death in 2001.

Toichi Domoto, born Dec. 11, 1902 in Oakland, Calif. to Kanetaro Domoto and Teru Morita. In 1921 Toichi attended Stanford and transferred to University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana in 1923 to study floriculture. In 1927 Toichi bought his own nursery in Hayward, Calif., which he ran until his death in 2001.

Domoto Bros. imported plants from Japan and was owned by Kanetaro Domoto who immigrated to Calif. in 1882.