George Shima | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Ushijima Kinji (牛島謹爾) 1864 Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan |
| Died | March 27, 1926 (aged 61–62) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Japanese Cemetery in Colma, California |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | Agriculture |
George Shima (1864 – March 27, 1926) was a Japanese American businessman in California who became the first Japanese American millionaire.[1] At one point, he produced about 85% of the state's potato crop,[2] which earned him the nickname "The Potato King".[3][4]
- ^ Hoobler, Dorothy; Hoobler, Thomas (1995). The Japanese American Family Album. Oxford University Press. p. 64. ISBN 978-0195124231.
- ^ "'Potato King' Is Dead; George Shima, Japanese Who Made Millions, Dies of a Stroke," New York Times. March 28, 1926
- ^ Kim, Hyung-chan. (1999). Distinguished Asian Americans: A Biographical Dictionary, p. 316, at Google Books
- ^ "Japanese farmers of California through industry and skill have made neglected regions fruitful". San Francisco Chronicle. San Francisco, California. 1918-01-16. p. 21.