100. Andy Shiga

When I entered through the front door that resembled traditional Japanese architecture, or a torii gate, the first thing I’d see is a jolly and chubby Buddha statue. Everyone rubbed the Buddha’s belly for good luck! Overhead hung beautiful kites and koi windsocks. Then followed the gentle trickle of an indoor fountain, maybe some koto music. There were colorful kimonos on racks, interesting food products, displays of curios, and the smells of spices, teas, and incense. There were supplies for Japanese origami and calligraphy—this was a store that pleased all the senses.

Nowadays, you can find similar products online or at many stores like World Market, so it’s hard to convey how unique Shiga’s was back then. It was unusual to find such wonderful things outside of an Asian neighborhood like Chinatown. My perspective was that of one who had grown up in a small East Coast suburb, where my only option when craving variety was a bike ride to the 5 & 10 on Main Street! That was the place I could find an inexpensive toy, probably made in Japan. But Shiga’s was the first store I was aware of where the sticker “Made in Japan” didn’t mean it was cheap pot-metal junk!

The business grew out of Andy Shiga’s family misfortune. During World War II, his father’s sweater factory had to be closed and the Shiga family was forced to move from Seattle to an internment camp. After the Pearl Harbor attack, young men of Japanese descent were expected to enlist in the Army to prove their loyalty to America. They would be sent to the war in Europe rather than the Pacific, “just in case” their loyalty was thin. Andy, however, proclaimed himself a conscientious objector and was sent to prison with many other internees who were judged guilty of draft resistance.

After the war, the draft resisters were pardoned by President Truman. Andy recovered his father’s clothing inventory and opened a retail shop, adding an assortment of imported goods from several Asian countries, and it quickly grew into a thriving business. By 1962, just in time for the Seattle World’s Fair, the store was poised to be a solid member of local commerce.

The merchandise was great, but the thing that made Shiga’s Imports really special was Andy Shiga himself. I came to know him as a lovely man, truly a people person, and an optimistic peace activist. Generous with his time, he would engage in conversation about anything in the world, gently offering his older and loving viewpoint. With a glint in his eye, he’d add a simple bit of Asian wisdom, always a hit with us young grasshoppers. There were times in my life where I came up to a problem or question, and I’d wish I had “Obi-Wan” Andy nearby to bounce it off.

Andy was also a big sponsor of the arts, and he loved that the Pacific Northwest was brimming with creativity. During all the unrest and violence of the 60’s and early 70’s, Andy had a vision of a way to heal the wounds of our differences and nurture unity and balance, and so was born the University District Street Fair, full of light, beauty, and fun. It was the first of its kind in the Northwest, a modern version of an ancient idea, and a model for many similar events across the country. Artists, crafters, food vendors, and performers of all kinds filled the Ave for one amazing spring weekend. After 50 years, it’s now called the “Shiga Street Fair,” and is more popular than ever.

To me, Andy Shiga exemplified the come-back spirit of Japanese-Americans. Despite the ruinous and humiliating setbacks suffered during the War Years, they kept sight of a hopeful outcome in America, and very many of them thrived splendidly.