Father & Son Mechanics Still in Business

Akio Tsuchida came to Southern California from Japan in 1970 with just $500 to his name. He worked as a mechanic for small shops and big and gradually built up his own clientele by repairing cars in his back yard on the weekends with a partner. In 1978, they started their own business, later bought a second shop and today, Akio's son, Tatsu, oversees day to day operations for Tokyo Automotive in Placentia. "Forty some odd years later," Tatsu says, "we're doing pretty okay."