“For my children, I have been working from yard to yard for fifteen years.” Following World War II, many Japanese American men turned to gardening to support their young growing families. To most of their wealthy or middle-class customers, they were just gardeners who were employed for their loyalty, work ethics, and artistic flare. Known for their stylized landscapes of manicured lawns, bonsai-like shaped trees, and shrubs, they left an indelible imprint on landscapes across the nation. This is the story of how one generation’s struggle and sacrifice for the sake of their children’s success influenced geo-political and economic ties between America and Japan.