Following their internment in Manzanar, Atsuo James "Jimmy" Ito and Hiroko Ito came to San Juan Capistrano in 1959 after meeting and marrying in Manzanar during World War II. Their eldest son, Braven, was born there, and their second son, Douglas, was born in Los Angeles. After losing everything during internment, Jimmy wanted to own land and build a nursery that would become a legacy for their sons. In San Juan Capistrano, Jimmy and Hiroko bought property from Eugene Oyharzabal that became Ito Nursery. Opening in 1970, the family worked together to build it into a successful business selling outdoor plants to retail and wholesale buyers, supplying other nurseries, cities, festivals, schools, parks, and homeowners. The nursery began without electricity, telephone, or plumbing, with only water lines for hand watering its plants and trees. After retiring in 1979, Jimmy and Hiroko devoted time to sumi-e, a Japanese style of ink painting, and to growing fruits and vegetables in a section of the nursery, and Jimmy shared produce from his garden with friends and neighbors. Braven, Doug, and Doug's wife Sheree continued running the nursery, though Braven's muscular dystrophy increasingly made work difficult. After 48 years in business, Doug and Sheree chose to close the nursery and retire, hoping the property would become a place the community and visitors could also enjoy.