Good Work Always Lasts  

Resident Kiminobu Yamada Revisits the Work He Did for San Antonio Winery

Kiminobu Yamada was born on May 27, 1927 in Los Angeles, CA. “Growing up on Hollywood and Vine was not like how it is now,” recalls Mr. Yamada, now a resident at Keiro Intermediate Care Facility. “It was like a wild western movie with cowboys and horses.”

At the age of 5, he went back to Japan, where he stayed until he turned 20. After the war ended, he returned to Los Angeles in 1948 to pursue his dream of being an artist, inspired by his older brother.

“My older brother was a really good artist,” remembers Mr. Yamada, whose brother was drafted into the army and passed away during the war. “When he was in high school, he would hide behind someone in class and just draw in his book.”

In Los Angeles, Mr. Yamada enrolled in the Art Center School and studied everything from oil painting to pencil sketching for two years. “I always liked to draw when I was younger,” said Mr. Yamada, who still carries around his sketching pencils wherever he goes. “My favorite artist is Paul Cezanne, a very famous French impressionist artist.”

As a commercial artist, painter and designer, Mr. Yamada did some work for the San Antonio Winery, including the lettering and design on many of the wine barrels. Recently, he was able to visit the winery during an outing with other Keiro residents. Although the winery was renovated, most of his works were still on display.

“I did this many years ago,” said Mr. Yamada, gazing at his work. “It took me years to do it and it is nice to see it again.”

Read more Reflections on 50 Years.