A historical farmhouse in San Jose, in the Bay Area, tied to Japanese American heritage, has stepped into a new chapter, with preservation teams now working to save and restore the structure.
The Sakauye Farmhouse, the farmstead and orchards of Japanese American farmer and horticulturist Eiichi Sakauye, was relocated to History Park.
In a social media post, the Japanese American Museum of San Jose (JAMsj) announced that the building was relocated to its new home on April 30, 2026, launching the second phase of restoring the farmhouse project.
The new home for the historic building marks a crucial milestone in the efforts to save one of the last few links to Santa Clara Valley’s early Japanese American families.
Built around 1920, the Sakauye Farmhouse was owned by Sakauye, who lived in the house from around 1945 until his death in 2005, according to the Preservation Action Council of San Jose (PAC*SJ). His home, orchard, and gardens were threatened with demolition to create a mixed-use housing development and public park.
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Although most of the historic farmstead was bulldozed, the farmhouse was partially disassembled and relocated within the project site in May 2025, according to PAC*SJ.
The farmhouse’s red-tile roof and its supporting structures were removed in six pieces, and the home was sawn in half so that it could be moved by truck, according to a KQED report.
A group of local nonprofits (led by JAMsj, PAC*SJ, and History San Jose) and San Jose City Councilmember Rosemary Kamei worked together to save the farmhouse, which ultimately led to the building being relocated to its new site, according to a San Jose Spotlight report.
The next phase of the preservation includes a full-scale restoration of the farmhouse, with a focus on rehabilitating the structure so that it can be opened to the public. The restoration will not only offer a glimpse into the stories of Japanese immigrants but also help people understand the significance of Japanese Americans and their contributions, as well as the Sakauye family’s story.
The nonprofits are now working to raise funds for the restoration.
In a release, the three nonprofits said they need to raise $300,000 for the next phase of restoration.
The organization shared on Instagram that throughout the month of May, JAMsj will match up to $50,000 in individual donations. The matching initiative is supported by a grant from the KT Foundation.
In addition to appealing to philanthropic institutions, leaders, private donors, and community members, the three organizations have created the Sakauye Farm Legacy Grove.
Expected to be planted adjacent to the Sakauye Farmhouse at History Park, the grove will have seven fruit trees (such as persimmons, Japanese apricots, and varieties of plums) that were common to Japanese American farmers and households.
“This is American history, this is part of San Jose, this is an integral part of what it means to be part of San Jose and the Santa Clara Valley,” Vanessa Hatakeyama, executive director of JAMsj, said in the Instagram post.
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