IWATA, SHIGEZO (1900-1986) & SONOKO FLORA (UYEMATSU) 1911-2004

Shigezo Iwata

      Shigezo Iwata (Poston 42-7-D) was born on January 1, 1900 in Otaru, Hokkaido Japan.  In 1923, he graduated from the Waseda University in Tokyo.  He immigrated to the United States through the port of Seattle, Washington on May 12, 1924, to study plant management and labor issues. He faced language barriers, and in 1935, he moved to Los Angeles and worked as a Japanese schoolteacher.

     Sonoko Flora Uyematsu was born on December 15, 1911 in Los Angeles, California to Japanese immigrant parents, and spent her early childhood living with her grandparents in Japan after her parent's marriage failed in 1913.  She left Japan in 1922 and returned to California, and attended a public school in Montebello. Later, she went to Japan to  attend Mrs. Hani’s School (Jiyu Gakuen), a two-year junior college in Tokyo, and graduated in 1933. She returned to Montebello briefly, and resided at the Japanese Children's Home where she worked as a practical nurse, while teaching Japanese, and attended night school to learn typing and improve her English. In 1937, she was introduced to Shigezo Iwata through a matchmaker, and after the family broke off their engagement, Sonoko married Shigezo Iwata in a civil ceremony.

Sonoko Iwata

     In August 1941, Shigezo and Sonoko relocated to Thermal, California to farm.  He became the secretary of the Thermal Farmers' Cooperative Association for Japanese farmers.  

     After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Shigezo was arrested and detained by the FBI, since he was a former kendo teacher.  He was taken to the Santa Fe, New Mexico  Department of Justice detention prison, and a few days later, transferred to the facility at  Lordsburg, New Mexico. 

Iwata children Poston camp I

     On July 6, 1943, Shigezo was finally granted parole after a second hearing.  He joined his wife and their three young children, who had been evacuated from Thermal, California and detained at the Poston, Arizona internment camp block 42-7-D since May 19, 1942.  Baby Michi Iwata was born in 1944, and the family left Poston  on August 21, 1945 and traveled East to New York where Shigezo found work on a dairy farm as a cook. The following year, the family moved to Seabrook, New Jersey. Shigezo worked at the Seabrook Farms Frozen Foods plant as a laborer, and in 1948, Sonoko began work at the plant as a packer.  They remained employed with the Seabrook Farms Frozen Food Plant until retirement in the 1970s.  In 1953, when naturalization laws allowed, Shigezo  earned his citizenship. They had five children, Masahiro, Misao, Miki, Michi, and Misono Iwata.

     Masahiro graduated from Rutgers University as a ceramic engineer, worked in Baltimore, and raised three children.  Misao graduated from the Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania Nursing School, worked in Wilmington, Delaware, and has two children.  Miki graduated from the Presbyterian Hospital Nursing School in Philadelphia, joined the Navy, and retired as a Captain after a long career.  Michi attended Ursinus, raised three daughters, and lives in St. Louis.  Misono graduated from Cedar Crest College and has two children.

     Shigezo Iwata died on April 2, 1986 in Bridgeton, New Jersey.  Sonoko Flora (Uyematsu) Iwata died on January 11, 2004 in Millville, New Jersey.

Sources:

http://www.hsp.org/node/2763

http://rwalck.wordpress.com/page/8/

ROKUTANI, SHINOBU SAMUEL (1917-2011)

T/5 Sam Rokutani

      Shinobu Samuel Rokutani ( Poston 308-6-D) was born on November 20, 1917 in Alameda County to Japanese immigrants, Otoji and Tsuruno Rokutani. In 1939, Sam graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, where he was a member of the Japanese Club and south-paw pitcher for the University's varsity baseball team. 

     On August 4, 1942, Sam and his (widowed) mother, Tsuruno Rokutani and his brother,  George's family,  voluntarily evacuated from Alameda County and relocated to Reedley.  After a few months, they were evacuated to the Poston, Arizona internment camp block 308-6-D.  At Poston camp III, Sam worked in the Accounting Department.  On November 20, 1942, he volunteered for the U.S. Military Intelligence Service, after the recruiting team of Major Karl Gould, M/Sgt Joe Masuda and T/Sgt Jerry Shibata visited Poston.  He left Poston and went to Camp Savage, Minnesota for intense Japanese language training at the Language School section 16, and graduated in December 1942.

     After the end of World War II, Sam Rokutani became a member of the University of California, Berkeley Bullpen Club,  a team of Bear Backers who specifically donate to and fundraise for Cal Baseball. In 1980, Sam and his wife, Jun, moved from Minnesota to Bella Vista, Arkansas.  In 1986, Sam served as President of the Bella Vista Men's 18 Hole Golf Association. 
     Sam Rokutani died on January 28, 2011 in Bentonville, Arkansas. He was preceded in death by his parents Otoji and Tsuruno Rokutani; wife, Jun (2001); and brother, George (2000).

     Sam is survived by daughter, Laurie Rokutani Gresard of Williamsburg, Virginia.

FUJIMOTO, Masakazu Jack PhD

      Masakazu Jack Fujimoto was born in 1928  and raised in Encinitas, California to Morizo and Emi Annie Fujimoto, as the eldest of the six children.  On May 15, 1942, Jack, his parents, and siblings, Fumie, Yoko, Takashi, and Fujie, were evacuated from Encinitas and relocated to the Poston, Arizona internment camp block 28-2-D.   On September 8, 1945, the Fujimoto family left Poston and resettled in Encinitas, California, where his parents established a successful carnation farm.  Jack graduated from San Dieguito High School in Encinitas, and volunteered in the U.S. Army, where he was trained in Counter-Intelligence and served during the Korean conflict in 1950.

     Jack earned both a B.S. and M.B.A. degree from UCLA, and a PhD in Education in 1970. Dr. Jack Fujimoto was the first Japanese American college president in the mainland U.S. in 1977.  He has served as president of Sacramento City College, Los Angeles Mission College, West LA College, LA Pierce College and interim superintendent/president of Imperial Valley College. He also served for 12 years as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Institute of Buddhist Studies in Berkeley. 

     Jack has served as President of the Japanese Institute of Sawtelle, the West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple and the Japanese American Historical Society.  He was named 2003 Nisei Week Pioneer.  He has lectured to Japanese students at Kagoshima Junshin College and Kyushu Sangyo University. 

     Jack met his future wife, Grace at her father's store in West Los Angeles Sawtelle's Japantown.   They have four children, Crystal, Randy, Jolie and Maya.  Jack developed the book, "Sawtelle: West Los Angeles' Japantown".

Source: PR.com, Dawna Lee Heising of "Eye on Entertainment" Interviews Internationally Renowned Educator Dr. Jack Fujimoto"

YOSHIDA, Rae Hideko (Okamoto) (1934-1994)

Rae Hideko Okamoto, 1956

     Rae Hideko Okamoto was born on April 23, 1934, in Watsonville, California to Shigeto George and Chiyoko Rose Okamoto.  She and her parents were evacuated to the Salinas Assembly Center, and relocated on July 4, 1942 to the Poston, Arizona internment camp I.  Her family left Poston on February 26, 1943 and resettled in Detroit, Michigan. She lived at the Mosher dormitory, and  graduated from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in 1956 and earned a B.S degree in Nursing.

Rae married John Yoshida, and they lived in the Antelope Valley.  Rae rose through the ranks of Antelope Valley College to become the school's Vice President of Academic Affairs.  She volunteered assisting the ill and elderly in the Antelope Valley.  She died on December 7, 1994 at the age of 60.  She is survived by her husband of 28 years, John Yoshida.

Source: http://articles.latimes.com/1994-12-10/local/me-7158_1_antelope-valley-college

Ancestry.com

ONO, Yoneo E. (1925-1998)

Yoneo Ono

  Yoneo E. Ono was a Japanese American born in Bakersfield, California on April 25, 1925 to Yonishiro George and Tome Ono. He was evacuated on May 25, 1942 with his parents and siblings, (Minoru Joe, Tomi, Taeko Joanne, and Takashi) to the Poston, Arizona internment camp block 19-9-C.  He  graduated from Poston I High School, worked at the Poston General Hospital, and read books on philosophy and sociology during the summer. He left the Poston camp and went to Hartford, Connecticut on June 9, 1944, where he later graduated from the University of Connecticut.

      As an adult, Yoneo worked tirelessly for rural development, and was the Associate Planner of the city of Fresno.  He was an active volunteer in the rural housing and assistance programs and founded Rural Community Assistance Corp (RCAC). 

      For his lifelong commitment, the RCAC honored him with an award when he retired from its board in 1984. The RCAC Board of Directors has presented the award to outstanding volunteers who have made immense contributions to rural development. Yoneo was presented the 1998 Yoneo Ono Award at the Rural Community Assistance Corporation  (RCAC) Conference in Seattle.  He died on April 16, 1998 in Redding, California.

 

Sources:

http://www.rcac.org/doc.aspx?521

http://library.csus.edu/collections/jaac/oralhist.html#YONEO%20ONO

SATOW, Susumu "Spud" (1919 - 2009)

Susumu "Spud" Satow

     Susumu “Spud” Satow was born November 27, 1919, in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was raised in Montpelier, Idaho and studied engineering at the University of Washington in Seattle. After school, he moved to San Diego, but in 1942 was ordered to the Santa Anita Assembly Center, then relocated to the permanent internment camp on August 28, 1942 at Poston, Arizona camp 3. On October 1, 1942 he married Tami Matsumoto (Poston block 329-14-A), formerly from San Diego and they lived at Poston block 329-14-B.  Sus left Poston on August 30 1943 and went to Cincinnati, Ohio.  He was hired as a language instructor at the University of Michigan and taught Japanese to the U.S. soldiers. Inspired by his brother Kazuo Kozaki who served with the US Army during WWII. His wife and daughter, Karen, left Poston on February 5, 1944 and went to Detroit, Michigan.
     Sus made his career as a structural detailer, assisting in the construction of many well known projects such as the Renaissance Center in Detroit, the Zilwaukee Bridge, and the Royal Oak Police Station. He was the first Cub Scout leader at Kenwood School in Clawson. He collected and cut semi-precious stones and crafted fine jewelry out of gold and silver. He was a proficient woodworker who built model planes and boats. He died on January 3, 2009 at the age of 89 years.
     He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Tami; daughters, Marian Azuma, Karen (Jack) Wade, Dianne (John) Lemanski, and Janice (the late Corbin Jr.) Reed; and son, Richard Satow.

Source: http://www.lynchfuneraldirectors.com/death_notice.aspx?Operation=preview&noticeid=770

NAKANO, George Shigeyuki (1928-2010)

George Shigeyuki Nakano

     George Shigeyuki Nakano was born on December 21, 1928 in Venice, California to Minokichi and Kima Nakano. He grew up in Oceanside, California.

     After the attack at Pearl Harbor, his father was picked up by the FBI and was eventually sent to the Santa Fe, New Mexico Department of Justice detention prison. On May 15, 1942, his mother and siblings were interned at the Poston, Arizona camp block 27-13-AB. His father was paroled and joined the family at Poston on June 2, 1942.  Although he would view this period with adult perspective as he grew older, he often said as a young boy this was a great time to hang out and play with all the other Japanese kids. It was true testament to the positive "glass is half full" kind of guy that he would be his entire life. It also summed up the value that he placed on friendships. The family left Poston and returned to Oceanside on August 20, 19452.

     George graduated from Oceanside-Carlsbad Union High School in 1948. He served in the United States Army from 1950-1952 before attending Oceanside-Carlsbad College. In 1954, he moved to Caldwell, Idaho to attend The College of Idaho with a football scholarship. In addition to football, George was a member of the boxing team.

     In 1957, George met Elaine Lutes, and they were married on August 29, 1959 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Caldwell, Idaho.

     Together they raised four children, Nikki, Tad, Karin, and Kristin. Upon graduation from The College of Idaho, George began his teaching and coaching career at Middleton High School. After two years, he moved to Caldwell Jr. High School and a year later to Caldwell High School where he coached football, wrestling, and track. In 1968, he accepted a teaching and coaching position at Borah High School that would span 19 years. His 30-year coaching career allowed George to positively influence the lives of young student athletes.

     Throughout his career, George was the recipient of several awards. These include, the Charlie Alvaro Athletic Award, the A1 and A2 Track Coach of the Year, the Gary Comstock Memorial Award, the Idaho High School Activities Association Hall of Fame, and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame "Lifetime Achievement to Wrestling."  In addition to his teaching and coaching career, George had a passion for teaching driver's training. In 1982, he opened Nakano Driving School. In the 23 years he ran the business, George taught hundreds of teens and adults to drive using his patented wheel. On July 18, 2010, he passed away at the age of 81 years.

      George is survived by his wife of 50 years, Elaine; daughter, Nikki Nakano, Karin (Jeff) Loffer, and Kristin (Charlie) Finley; son, Tad (Juli) Nakano;  brothers, Ben Nakano, and Bob (Sue) Nakano;  and sisters, Frances Carvajal and Iris Imoto.

Source: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/idahostatesman/obituary.aspx?n=george-shigeyuki-nakano&pid=144198599

ITO, Martin Lloyd (1917-2011)

Martin Lloyd Ito

     Martin Lloyd Ito was born on April 21, 1917 in Oakland, California.  He was the oldest child born to Yenkichi and Masaye Mabel (Uyeno) Ito.  His father immigrated from Japan in 1882, and his mother was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. In 1920, the family was living in the Santa Cruz area, where his father was a lumberman for the railroad.  By 1930, they moved south to the San Diego area, where Lloyd graduated from San Diego High School and worked with his father, raising and selling vegetables. Lloyd's siblings were  Ruth J, Jean Genevieve, and  Walter Raymond.

     In the spring of 1942, Lloyd and his family were evacuated to the Santa Anita Assembly Center.  On August 28, 1942, they were transported to the Poston, Arizona internment camp block 327-1-C. While in Poston, he loved to fish in the Colorado River, and later volunteered for the Army's all nisei combat team.  He left Poston on May 26, 1943, and reported to Fort Douglas, Utah.  He had basic training at Camp Shelby, then assigned to the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, joining Canon Company as a radio operator. He was wounded in action on October  28, 1944 while in France. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart for his service during world War II. 
     When he returned to Encanto, he was refused a haircut because of his ancestry. The barber told him “Your people killed my son.” Lloyd explained to the barber, whose son had been a classmate of his, that he had served in Europe for three years. He got his haircut and a new friend.
     Lloyd continued vegetable farming in Encanto, and in 1946, married Emiko "Emi" Horiye.  Together they raised a family of four.  In 1952, Lloyd and his father gave away nearly 40 tons of tomatoes when the wholesale market prices fell too low to make it profitable for them to ship the last of the harvest to the cannery. The previous year, the Itos volunteered to transport children to school during a school bus strike. Using the farming company trucks, Lloydand others drove Encanto children to and from school because they believed it was important that students not miss school. In the 1960s, he won a Rambler station wagon as the local yellowtail fish derby championship.

     Lloyd enjoyed ballroom dancing, extended Baja fishing trips, ocean and lake fishing, woodworking, and making and sharpening knives.  Lloyd and Emi volunteered for the Blind Recreation Center fishing program and Lloyd taught people to fish, prepared lunches and repaired equipment for the recreation program.   Lloyd was a member of the San Diego JACL, the Japanese American Historical Society of San Diego and Pioneer Ocean View United Church of Christ.
      Lloyd Ito passed away peacefully at 94 years of age on June 23, 2011.  He was preceded in death by his parents; and brother, Walter Raymond Ito (2010).

     He is survived by wife, Emi, sons, Mike (Rhonda), Robert (Edna), George (Carol);  daughter, Marlene (Steve Mishler); and sisters, Ruth and Jean.

Sources: Published in San Diego Union-Tribune on June 28, 2011

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/signonsandiego/obituary.aspx?n=martin-lloyd-ito&pid=152265309

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jul/09/world-war-ii-veteran-martin-lloyd-ito-dies-at-94/

SASAKI, Chiyeko "Mary" (Fujita) (1922-2011)

     Chiyeko Mary Fujita was born on January 14, 1922 in Fresno, California  to  Jappanese immigrant farm laborers, Sakamatsu and Chisayo Fujita. She was raised in Ivanhoe, and graduated from Woodlake High School.

     In 1942, Chiyeko, her parents and sister Michiko were evacuated from Visalia and arrived on August 7, 1942 by railroad to Parker, Arizona.  They were transported through the desert to the Poston internment camp block 325-1-B.  While in Poston, she met her future husband, Hifumi "George" Sasaki, 326 block manager.  On September, 25,1943 they were married, and two months before they left Poston in 1945, their first baby Carlene Emi was born. They resettled in the Fresno area, and two years later, a son, Takashi Ronald was born.

     Chiyeko and her family relocated to Visalia where she worked as a hotel manager.  Later, she worked with the Bostitch Company in accounting. Chiyeko retired 1997. She passed away on May 13, 2011 at Chaste Tree Park.  She was preceded in death by husband, George Hifumi (2009)

     She is survived by daughter, Emi (Aki) Nakao;  son, Ron, Jeffery (Cheryl), and Hilary (Harry) Miranda.

Sources: 

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/visaliatimesdelta/obituary.aspx?n=chiyeko-sasaki-mary&pid=151119331

Published in Visalia Times-Delta on May 18, 2011

HARADA, Misao (Kume) (1923-2010)

Misao Harada

     Misao Kume was born June 19, 1923, in Wolf Point, Montana to Magoshiro and Hatsuye (Nakagawa) Kume. She attended schools in Williston, North Dakota and graduated from Escondido High School in California in 1941.

     On August 4, Misao was evacuated from Reedley, California and placed into the Poston, Arizona internment camp 3.  On March 10, 1944, she left Poston and resettled to Willston, North Dakota.

     In 1947, Misao married William “Dido” Harada in Wolf Point, Montana. They owned and operated Dido’s Café in Havre, Montana, until 1974. She spent the rest of her working days at the Eagle’s Manor retirement home until she fully retired. In 2008, she moved to Kalispell, Montana. Misao painted with oil and watercolors, and had made financial  contributions for clean drinking water well drilling in 2 villages in the Philippines.

     Misao Kume Harada, 87, passed away at Kalispell, Montana, on  November 13, 2010. She was preceded in death by her parents, Magoshiro Kume and Hatsuye Nakagawa;  husband, William Harada (1995); sisters, Yoshino Flossie Requilman (1992), Yukiko Kume (2008), Cecile Kume (2006); and  brothers, George Kume (2010), Mike Kume (2008), and Paul Thomas Kayaki.

     She is survived by her sons, Arthur (Sara) Harada and David (Janine) Harada; daughters, Kimi (Mark) Neiman and Kari (Mark) Tibbals; sisters, Hannah Winge, and Mitzi Hollen; and brother, Jack Kume.

Source: http://www.havredailynews.com/cms/news/story-201119.html

SASAKI, George Hifumi (1915-2009)

     George Hifumi Sasaki was born on February 17, 1915  in Auburn, California to Suekichi and Torayo (Kawamoto) Sasaki. George was sent to Japan to live with his relatives and attended school there.  On May 16, 1932, George and his sister, Narumi, returned to the U.S. and went to the Los Angeles area where his parents were.

     On August 7, 1942, George and his brothers, Tsutomu and Masao Henry were evacuated from  Reedley, California, arrived at Parker, Arizona, and transported to the Poston, Arizona internment camp block 326-11-D on the day the temperature was over 120 degrees. At Poston, George was elected Block 326 Manager, and a member of the Red Cross.  He met Chiyeko Mary Fujita (Poston block 325-1-B) and on September 25, 1943, they were married and lived at block 326-13-E.  In the summer of 1945, they had their first child at Poston, Emi Carline.  George and his family left Poston on August 8, 1945 and immediately resettled in Fresno, and later moved to  Visalia.

     In 1950, George started a gardening business, and was an active member of the Visalia Buddhist Temple.  He was honored for his dedicated service at the 100th Anniversary celebration in 2007. George Hifumi Sasaki  passed away on October 13, 2009 at the age of 94.  He was preceded in death by brothers, Masao Henry (1985), and Tsutomu Harry (1997); and sister, Narumi (1995).

     He is survived by wife Chiyeko; daughter Emi (Aki) Nakao; and son Ronald.

Sources: Published on October 17, 2009.

HAYASHI, Alice Sakaye (Yamaoka) (1922 -2011)

Alice Hayashi

     Alice Sakaye Yamaoka was born in Fresno, California on October 7, 1922, the third of seven children born to Jitaro and Fujie (Yamada) Yamaoka, immigrant farm laborers.  The children were orphaned and at age 12, Alice and two sisters (Flora and May), were sent to live with relatives in Japan.  They were separated from the rest of their siblings. While living in Japan as a teenager, Alice worked in the fields and took care of an invalid relative. At the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War, Alice and her sisters left Japan and arrived in Hawaii in November 1937.

     In 1942, the Alice and her two sisters were sent back to Fresno where Alice was  reunited with her siblings.  Alice, Don, Haruko, Yoshiko, Flora and May Yamaoka were evacuated from Sanger, California and sent to the Poston, Arizona internment camp block 227-5-C on July 16, 1942. In Poston, Alice was a contestant for the Poston County Fair Queen contest, and candidate for the F.F.A. Winter Gathering Queen contest. Alice was in the senior class of 1943, the first graduating class at Poston II High School. Following graduation, Alice was among the first released from Poston on August 17, 1943 to continue her education in St. Louis, Missouri. Alice earned an Associates degree from Brown Business College, and stayed with a doctor's family in Clayton, Missouri and worked by  taking care of the doctor's children.  Alice worked with the War Relocation Authority, helping other released internees find housing and jobs.
     Alice attended a dance in St Louis, Missouri where she drew a half a card and was paired with the man who drew the other half, and met Harry Hayashi, who was raised in Grand Junction, Colorado.  Harry was drafted into the Army and sent to Washington University for specialized training. They were engaged before he was shipped out for combat and in 1946, were married when he returned from duty.  
     After her work with WRA, Alice became a secretary in the Adjudication Department of the Veterans Administration until 1948, the office manager for the Municipal Softball League until 1976. She retired from the VA in 1948, and from the softball league until she retired in 1976.

     Alice held PTA leadership positions in the Dewey School Elementary and Southwest High School, served as a Youth leader for the St. Louis JACL, and member of Ikebana International Society.

     Alice passed away on March 28, 2011 in St. Louis at the age of 88 years. She was preceded in death by her parents, Jitaro and Fujie Yamaoka; brother, Don Noboru; and sisters, Fusa, Haruko, Yoshiko and Mitsuko Flora.

 She is survived by husband, Harry Hayashi; son, Dennis; daughter, Joyce Ann; and  sister, Taeko May (Bob) Whang.

Sources

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/obituaries/article_712782b6-c35d-5cab-8bf7-63de9215db27.html#ixzz1RO8MFumL

http://www.obitoftheday.com/post/4340566998/alicehayashi

St. Louis Post-Dispatch on April 3, 2011

KATO, Nobuko (Fujioka) (1929-2005)

     Nobuko Fujioka was born August 19, 1929 in Watsonville, California to Katsu ("Kaku") and Masuyo Fujioka. She was raised planting and harvesting strawberries on her family's strawberry farm.

     On May 15, 1942, her family was evacuated from Santa Ana County, California to the Poston, Arizona internment camp block 11-11-B.  While at Poston, she encountered a desert scorpion and was injured, and enjoyed playing baseball and basketball with her friend 'B-29'. Nobuko left Poston with her family on October 15, 1945 and resettled in Santa Maria, California.

     In 1948, Nobuko graduated from Santa Maria Union High School.  She went to work in San Francisco, and met Reverend Paul M. Kato.  In 1954, they were married  in San Anselmo, California, and eventually four children were born in Sacramento, California. In 1966, the family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, where her husband, was minister at the Salt Lake Japanese Church of Christ.  Tragically, he died in an auto vs pedestrian accident in 1979 in Salt Lake City.   

     Nobuko was employed as a microfilm clerk for Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Utah and retired in 1987. She remained active in church serving as a Sunday School teacher, church clerk of sessions, and president of the Women's Agape group. Nobuko Kato  passed away on January 27, 2005. She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Reverend Paul Kato (1979);  brothers, Tom Tamotsu (2001)  and Yasuto G (2003); and sister, Sumako Rosie (1981).

     She is survived by sons, Stephen (Rennae) Kato, Jason Kato; and daughters, Miriam Kato, and Eunice (John) Griffin; sister, Helen Ryoko Honbo; and brother, Henry Tetsuo.   

Source: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4188/is_20050130/ai_n11500438/?tag=untagged

FURUBAYASHI, Masato Jack (1917-2003)

     Masato Jack Furubayashi was born on February 28, 1917 in Kakaako, Oahu, Hawaii, the tenth child of Hichibei Enomoto and Sato Furubayashi.  

     During World War II, he was evacuated from Orange Cove, California and arrived at Poston, Arizona internment camp, block 326-13-D. While at Poston, he was worked for the Fire Department, and later went out of Poston on a temporary seasonal work pass to Maita, Montana.  He finally left Poston on August 22, 1944 to work in Milwaukee, Wisconsin before finally resettling at Salt Lake City. 

     On December 19, 1950, he married Noriko Maxine Hirano. Masato worked the Tooele Army Depot for 30 years and retired in 1979.

     Masato Jack Furubayashi passed away on November 9th, 2003. He was preceded in death by his parents, Hichibei Enomoto and Sato Furubayashi; siblings; Mamu Enomoto, Teru Kamada, Kenichi, Yoshitsugu Henry, Tetsuo, Takashi, Setsuko Sato, and Shizuko.

     Mas is survived by his wife, Maxine; daughter, Sandy (Paul) Iwasaki; sons, Glen (Susan), Mike (Connie), Scott (Joy); and sister, Chieko Nakanishi.

Source: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4188/is_20031113/ai_n11431474/?tag=rel.res1

YOSHIYAMA, Fumie Daisy (1915-2009)

Fumie D. Yoshiyama

     Fumie Daisy was born on May 16, 1915.  She spent her childhood years in Salinas where her father ran a fish market. After her marriage to Robert Sakari Yoshiyama, she was evacuated to the Salinas Assembly Center, and relocated to the Poston internment camp block 215-14-E on July 7, 1942.  On May 12, 1945, she and her husband left Poston and relocated to Parlier, California.  Later, they resettled in Seaside, California.
      Daisy was a member of the Monterey Peninsula Buddhist Temple, and was a skilled seamstress. She passed away on November 7, 2009 in Monterey.

      She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Sakari Yoshiyama (1972).

She is survived by son, Leonard Yoshiyama.

Source: http://www.memorialsolutions.com/sitemaker/sites/PaulMo1/obit.cgi?user=146426:Y:oshiyama

KAGIWADA, George (1931-2000)

      George Kagiwada, was born on July 4, 1931 in Los Angeles to Eiho Frank and Sachiko Kagiwada. George with his parents and brother, David, were evacuated from their home in Los Angeles, and arrived at the Poston internment camp, block  325-2-D on August 8, 1942.  The family left Poston on June 20, 1944 and  relocated to the Ann Arbor, Michigan area.

Prof. George Kagiwada

     George served in the U.S. Army in Tokyo during the Korean War. In the late 1950's  he married Nina.  George received his bachelor's degree and a Ph.D. in sociology at UCLA. He taught at California State University, Northridge in Southern California and the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada.  He directed the Asian American Studies program for 23 years at the University of California, Davis until his retirement in l993. He was a pioneer in the field of ethnic studies and Asian-American studies, and a tireless promoter for social justice and community activism.

    George Kagiwada passed away on October 15, 2000 at the age of  69. He was preceded in death by his brother, Reverend David Tamotsu Kagiwada (1985), and his father, Eiho Frank Kagiwada (1995).

      He is survived by wife, Nina; mother, Sachiko; daughters, Cindy and Jennifer; son,

Paul.

  

Source: The Davis Enterprise, October 19, 2000

GASPAR, Reiko Katherine (Miyamoto Nakawatase) (1940-2011)

Reiko Nakawatase Gaspar

     Reiko Katherine Miyamoto was born on May 27, 1940 in Fukuoka-Ken, Japan, to Yoshitaro and Aiko (Hamashima) Miyamoto. After her father died in 1941, she returned with her Japanese American mother to the United States before the U.S. entered World War II in 1941. They were evacuated on May 19, 1942 from Brawley, California to the Poston, Arizona internment camp. On December 1, 1942, her mother married Kenzo Nakawatase, who was evacuated from Escondido, California.  They lived together at Poston camp I, block 43-1-A. On September 15, 1945, they left Poston and went to Wilson, Arizona.

     She was raised in the Japanese American community in Seabrook, New Jersey, and in 1959, graduated from Bridgeton High School Class.  In 1963, she earned a bachelor's degree in International Relations from the American University in Washington D.C. in the early 1990's, she earned a master's degree in Education from the University of Pennsylvania. She trained for the Peace Corps in New Mexico, and returned to Philadelphia where in 1964, she started her teaching career and was an early supporter and founding member of the beginning teachers union.  In the early 1970's she married  Gusztav Gaspar, a violinist and music teacher in the Philadelphia public schools. She continued to teach and in 1979, changed jobs and worked at the Civic Center Museum in Philadelphia, which served, entertained and educated students from the surrounding counties in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. She retired early in the 1990s from declining health, but continued as a volunteer teacher for schoolchildren at the Japanese House.

    In 1984, she served as president of the Philadelphia chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) in the 1980s, participated in the restoration of the Japanese House in Fairmont Park and the development of its educational program, a member of the Pan-Asian coalitions, and Philadelphia Federation of Teachers. In 1989 and 1990, she was president of the Friends of the Japanese House and Garden, a nonprofit that funds and operates the city-owned site in Fairmount Park.

     Reiko passed away on January 19, 2011 in Philadelphia.
She is survived by husband, Gusztav Gaspar; daughter, Ilona; and mother, Aiko Nakawatase; brother, Masaru Edmund, and a sister, Hisako Lenore.  

Sources: Bridgeton News on January 24, 2011

KINOSHITA, George H. (1923-2011)

George H Kinoshita

     George Hidenobu Kinoshita was born on February 19, 1923 in Diamond Springs, California the first child born to Tsurunosuke and Masue Kinoshita.  He graduated from high school, and following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, his family was evacuated to the Pinedale Assembly Center during the summer of 1942.  His family was relocated to the Poston Arizona internment camp on July 22, 1942.  On March 16, 1943, his family transferred to Topaz, Utah (Central Utah Relocation Center) internment camp.  

     At the age of 21 years, George enlisted into the U.S. Army on July 12,1944 at Fort Douglas, Utah. Sgt. George H. Kinoshita was a Squad Leader of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team/100th Infantry Battalion Company A and saw action in Europe during WW II.   He was awarded the Bronze Star medal for meritorious achievement.

      George passed away on June 21, 2011 after a long battle with pulmonary fibrosis.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Tsurunosuke (1957) and Masue Kinoshita (1986); and sister Sumaye Smiles (Toru) Asada.(1997) 

     He is survived by his wife, Florence (Yoshida) Kinoshita; daughter Susan Kinoshita; and son Jon (Lysa) Kinoshita.  

Source: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/sacbee/obituary.aspx?n=george-h-kinoshita&pid=152191267

KAGEYAMA, Norma (Yamamoto) (1914-2011)

Norma Kageyama

      Norma Namika Yamamoto was born in April 26, 1914 in Watsonville, California. She spent her early four years in Japan, the Bay area, and then in Livingston, California. In 1934 she married Taminosuke Thomas Kageyama, and together, they had three sons born in Monterey.

     At the outbreak of World War II, her husband, Taminosuke was picked up by the FBI and detained at the local county jail without charges.  He was later transferred to the Department of Justice detention camp in Lordsburg, New Mexico. 

     Norma and her three little boys were forced to evacuate their home in Monterey and they temporarily relocated to Orosi with her husband's family members. On August 5, 1942, she arrived at the Poston, Arizona internment camp block 305-3-C  after a long, hot dusty train ride from Visalia to Parker, Arizona. On June 19, 1943, her husband was paroled from Lordsburg, New Mexico and joined his family at Poston.

      They left Poston on August 20, 1945 and returned to Monterey she worked in the sardine canneries during the heydays of the sardine industry.

      In 1953 Thomas and Norma bought the 3 Star Market in Monterey which they operated until their retirement in 1976. Norma passed away on April 21, 2011 at the age of 96 years in Seaside, California.

    Norma was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas (1978) and son, Ken Masao Kageyama (2003).

    She is survived by her sons, Roger Seiji (Christin) Kageyama, and Yoe Kageyama.

Source: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/montereyherald/obituary.aspx?n=norma-kageyama&pid=150955494

ISRAEL, Yukiko Julia (Fukuda) (1921-2007)

Yukiko J Israel

      Yukiko Julia Fukuda was born in Los Angeles on December 7, 1921, the oldest of five children of Mataemon and Kima (Yoshimura) Fukuda. Her father, Pfc Mataemon Fukuda, a non-citizen, served in the U.S. Armed Forces during World War I.  He was naturalized on December 29, 1936. 

     After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Yuki and her entire family were evacuated  from Los Angeles and arrived on May 29, 1942 to the Poston, Arizona internment camp block 36-8-D.  Yuki was the first in her family to leave Poston, on June 6, 1944 to Cleveland, Ohio.  Her sister, Kiyoko Mary, left Poston on June 25, 1945 and went to Pasadena.  Her brother George Shigeo was drafted in the U.S. Army and left Poston on July 8, 1945 to report to Fort Douglas in Utah. Her two sisters, Toshiko and Yoshiko remained at Poston to attend school and they finally left with their parents on September 21,1945 and returned to the Los Angeles area.

     Years later, Yuki married Major Arthur S. Israel,  a veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corps and together they had three children. Yuki worked as an secretary for Los Angeles Unified School District for many years. On February 14, 2007, the Israel family lost their beautiful mother to an anomolous lung disease. (Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.) 

      Yuki was preceded in death by her husband, Major Arthur S. Israel (1996), her father, Mataemon (1948) and her mother, Kima (1982).

       She is survived by her sons, Matthew, Robert; daughter, J.J. Israel; her brother, George Shigeo Fukuda; and sisters, Tomiko (Fukuda)and Yoshiko (Fukuda).

Submitted by: J.J. Israel, daughter

MIYAMOTO, Harry Tameo (1920-2004)

     Harry Tameo Miyamoto was born in San Luis Obispo on June 8, 1920  and moved to Japan with his parents.  In 1936, when he was fifteen, he traveled along from Kumamoto-ken, Japan to San Luis Obispo, California as a student. Harry found work on various farms from Sacramento to Imperial Valley.

     In 1940, Harry married Michi Mary Fujimoto, and the following year, Junko Margaret was born. Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, his family was evacuated from Orange County to the Santa Anita Assembly Center and then relocated to the Poston, Arizona internment camp block 5-12-D on May 15, 1942. While in camp, two children were born, Michiko Harriet followed by Hiroshi Kenneth in 1944. Harry went outside of  Poston on May 27, 1944 to work in the Denver area. His family finally left Poston on October 2, 1945 and resettled in Glendale, Arizona for six years, then moved to Oxnard, California in 1951.  Harry became a cooperative strawberry farmer and continued in the farming industry until his retirement in early 1980s. Harry passed away on March 10, 2004 in Oxnard.

     He is survived by his wife Michi; daughters, Margaret (James) Hosaki, Harriet (Robert) Hiji, Sue (Gary) Nakamura, Fumi (Steve) Nishimori, and Joyce (David) Schoonmaker; and sons, Ken (Karen) Miyamoto, Paul (Sharon) Miyamoto, John (Joan) Miyamoto, Alan (Heloisa) Miyamoto; and brother, Roy Miyamoto; and sisters, Satsuki Nishi, Nobuko Shigenaga, Hisato Akazaki, Yoshiko Yoshida.

Published in the Los Angeles Times on March 13, 2004

Source: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/latimes/obituary.aspx?n=harry-tameo-miyamoto&pid=2022478&fhid=2372

IWATA, Miki N. (1941-2011)

Capt. Miki N. Iwata

     Miki N. Iwata was born on March 18, 1941 in Montebello, California, the third child of  Shigezo and Sonoko Flora (Uyematsu) Iwata.  Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Shigezo was picked up by the FBI and imprisoned with no charges.  Sonoko and her children, Masahiro, Misao and Miki were evacuated from Thermal, California.  They  arrived at the Poston, Arizona (block 42-7-D) internment camp on June 19, 1942.  Shigezo was paroled from the Department of Justice detention camp in Santa Fe, New Mexico and joined his family at Poston on July 14, 1943. Michi was born in 1944. The Iwata family left Poston on August 21, 1945 and went to New York.

     Miki grew up in Seabrook, New Jersey and graduated in 1959 from Bridgeton High School. She continued her education and graduated from the Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  She earned a B.A. degree in nursing, and later became a certified nurse practitioner.

     In 1966, Miki enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served in Vietnam on the USS Sanctuary and USS Yosemite.  She was among the first women to serve on a Navy ship, and was assigned to many stations throughout the world.  After 29 years of service, she retired as a Captain, US Navy, Naval Nurse Corp.  Miki had received with numerous awards and citations.

      Following her retirement, Miki lived in Orland, Florida and volunteered to visit the sick, mentored children after school, and provided assistance to the homeless.  She served as a national officer in the Navy Nurse Corp Association, and was active with the YMCA and Tai Chi classes.  She was also an active member of the Conway United Methodist Church, served in the church choir and Church Council, and was involved with establishing the Stephens Ministry for people in crisis. 

     Miki passed away on June 12, 2011. She was preceded in death by her parents, Shigezo (1986) and Sonoko Flora (Uyematsu)  Iwata (2004).

      She is survived by brother Masahiro (Carolyn) Iwata; and sisters Misao (Roger) Walck, Michi (Thomas) Muchisky, and Misono (Ronald) Miller.  

Source:  

http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary-print.aspx?n=Miki-Iwata&lc=2236&pid=152008421&mid=4711268

FUJIMOTO, George Jr. (1921- 2011)

George Fujimoto, Jr.

     George Fujimoto, Jr, was born in Riverside, California on  January 2, 1921 to Suna (Sugi) and Toranosuke George Fujimoto. He grew up on the family farm located on Chase Road in Riverside, raising poultry. George attended Riverside Jr College, where he took a photography class.

     During 1942, following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, 21 year old George Jr. started writing a diary when his father, Toranosuke George Fujimoto was arrested by the FBI along with 27 other issei in Riverside and imprisoned at the Riverside County jail.  He was transferred to the Department of Justice detention camp at Tujunga Canyon, California, and later to the facility located at Santa Fe, New Mexico. When the family was notified that they were to be evacuated, John Kolb, head of the Poultrymen’s Cooperative of America, advised George Jr. to hire an attorney to draw up a lease agreement and rent out the chicken ranch to a white tenant.  [This advice saved their home and many of their most prized possessions while they were evacuated.]

     During late May, 1942, the Fujimoto family was evacuated from Riverside Department of Employment (5th and Main) where they boarded buses to Poston Arizona internment camp block 3-4-D. His father was paroled on July 7, 1942 and allowed to join the family at Poston camp 1, bock 3-4-D. His older sister, Lily with her husband, Harrie Taka and baby, were allowed to leave Poston and resettled in Des Moines, Iowa. George was allowed to leave Poston since he found a job with a photography shop and he stayed with his sister's family in Des Moines.

     George was drafted for the selective service and spent 4 months during late spring of 1944  at  basic training at Fort Blanding, Florida. He began intensive language training at the Military Intelligence Service Language School at Fort Snelling, Minnesota and completed in August 1945.  George served with the Occupation Forces in Japan as a military translator from November 1945-May 1946, and then was discharged from the US Army. 

     George returned to the family poultry farm in Riverside, where he was used the GI bill to attend college. He married Masako, and raised a family.  In 1967, George worked as an insurance salesman for nine years, and in 1976, he purchased and managed a the Sunshine Gal doughnut shop in San Bernardino  until 1986, when he retired. In 1988, he and his wife, Masako moved to Ferndale, Washington, where  he was a member of the Ferndale Senior Center and the First Baptist Church.  George frequently spoke to the public about his internment camp experiences and his diaries are part of the Special Collections at University of California, Riverside, cover 1942-48, as well as his father's diaries.

     George Jr. passed away in Riverside, California on May 9, 2011 at the age of 90 years. He was preceded in death by his wife Masako (3/21/2005), his father, Toranosuke (1968 ) and his mother, Sugi Fujimoto(1981).  

     He is survived by his sons, Wayne Fujimoto, William Fujimoto and daughter, Janet Solomko;  sisters Lilly Taka, Doris Miyeko Aoki, Mabel Zink, Betty Jean Ogawa,  and brother,  Charles Mitsuru Fujimoto.

Sources:

http://akesfamilyfuneralhome.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=1159637&fh_id=11548

http://aar.ucr.edu/NotableAsianAmericans/Japanese/Fujimoto/index.html

http://www.riversidehistoricalsociety.org/Documents/RHSJournalVol5.pdf

http://www.fiatlux.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/display.cgi?id=16

KITAHARA, Kei (1920-2011)

Kei Kitahara

     Kei Kitahara was born on December 29, 1920 Reedley, California to Ichizo and Kiyo Kitahara. He grew up on the family fruit farm in Parlier and participated in kendo, judo, attended Japanese School, Boy Scouts, and participated in the YMCA. 

     Following his  graduation from Reedley High School, he entered the University of California, Davis, and studied viticulture and horticulture.  After two years at University of California, Davis, his college education was cut short due to World War II.  His father was picked up for questioning by the FBI due to his connections with the kendo school.

      In August, 1942, the Kitahara family was evacuated into the Poston, Arizona internment camp III block 308-6-C. While at Poston, Kei took a teacher's  training course, and became an agriculture class instructor for the camp 3 high school. Kei's father was able to rejoin the family at Poston.  Kei volunteered from the detention camp for the U.S. Army all nisei combat unit.  On May 12, 1943,  he enlisted at Salt Lake City, Utah.  Kei went through basic training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, and traveled to Camp Savage, Minnesota,  for the Military Intelligence Service Language School.  Although he had studied Japanese as a youth at the Japanese School in Reedley, Kei was not fluent in the language, and had a difficult time learning Japanese. In the spring of 1944,  he finished the course, and was assigned to the South Pacific with the 81st Infantry Division. Kei eventually became a Military Intelligence Officer as 1st Lieutenant and worked with the 1st Infantry Division, 33rd Infantry Division, 323rd Regimental Combat Team, in the Pacific Theatre, including on the island of Palau. His job was primarily to interrogate the captured Japanese POWs and some radio broadcasting, as well as teaching the G.I.s simple words and phrases in the Japanese language. He helped to train the troops about the type of Japanese Imperial soldiers they would encounter in combat. He served at Peleliu, then Leyte, Philippines. 
     After contacting hepatitis, he was hospitalized and  Japan surrendered during that time. After he recovered, Kei was sent with the 81st Infantry Division to Japan to help with the Occupation. He accompanied the Artillery Division, interpreted for a brigadier general, and worked with the Occupation Forces and Japanese officials to help the local government with install civilian leaders. Kei was reassigned to Yokohama, Japan, where he worked with the defense attorney for the war crimes trials until 1946 when he was discharged and returned to the United States.

      When Kei returned from active military duty, he met Alice Osaki, and they were married in 1946. Shortly after they were married they purchased an 80 acre ranch south of Parlier, where he grew different varieties of stone fruit and table grapes. He eventually owned several ranches and a packing and shipping facility in Reedley. Kei was an active member of the United Methodist Fellowship Church, Lions Club, Ag One Foundation and Reedley College board.    

       Kei Kitahara passed away on June 24, 2011, at the age of 90. Kei is preceded in death  by his parents, Ichizo and Kiyo Kitahara, wife Alice, sister Miyoko Mizuno, brother Heiji George, and Toru Kitahara.

       Kei is survived by his son Larry (Alice) Kitahara; daughter, Susan (Craig) Lee; and  grandchildren, Krystal and Chelsea Kitahara, and Jennifer, Mitchell and Jackie Lee; and his sister, Yoneko Minami.

Sources:

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/fresnobee/obituary.aspx?n=kei-kitahara&pid=152276557

http://www.discovernikkei.org/pt/resources/military/5746/?view=print

http://www.nikkeiheritage.org/misnorcal/profiles/profile.php?id=2029