Kazuto "Ky" Sasaki (Poston 318-13-H) was born on August 14, 1914, in Selma, California to Japanese immigrants, Kaiichiro and Kiyome Sasaki. He was the oldest of eight children and was raised in Reedley, California. Kazuto graduated from Reedley High School and relocated to Los Angeles for employment. While in Los Angeles, he met Michiye Doi and they were married in 1941.
After the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the signing of Executive Order 9066, Kazuto and Michiye Sasaki joined the Kaiichiro Sasaki family members who were removed from their home in Reedley and transported to the Arizona desert for their wartime living quarters. They arrived at Poston camp III on August 6, 1942 one of the hottest days of that year. Kaiichiro, Kiyome, Eiko Ethel, Susumu, Hideo, Hanami Helen, Chikara "Chick", Shigeru Jimmy and Iyoko "Yonkie" were assigned to Poston block 318-12-A. Kazuto and Michiye were assigned to Poston block 318-13-H, and Shigeto Stanley Sasaki was born on November 6, 1942.
Hanami Helen Sasaki was the first to leave Poston on April 1, 1943, after receiving a job offer in Greeley, Colorado. Susumu left Poston on May 20, 1943 with a job waiting for him in Chicago. Shigeru Jimmy obtained a job offer in Chicago and left Poston on January 9, 1944. Hideo also went to Chicago after obtaining a job offer and left Poston on April 2, 1944. Kazuto, Michiye and Shigeto Stanley Sasaki left Poston on July 29, 1944 and Kazuto worked in farming in Rexburg, Idaho. Chikara "Chick" left Poston on February 5, 1945 and was the first to return to Reedley and the following month, on March 8, 1945, his parents, Kaiichiro, Kiyome and sister Iyoko "Yonkie" were able to return to Reedley. Eiko Ethel received a job opportunity in Chicago and left Poston the following month, on April 24, 1945,
After returning to Central California, Kazuto established a gardening business in Fresno in 1949, and he worked as a landscape gardener for 45 years. Kazuto "Ky" Sasaki died on November 8, 2011, at the age of 97. He was preceded in death by his parents Kaiichiro (1968) and Kiyome (1964); son, Shigeto Stanley (1994); brothers Hideo (2000) and Chick (1999); and sisters, Ethel Doi (2006) and Iyoko "Yonkie" Hamada (2003).
He is survived by his wife Michiye; daughter, Elaine (John) Yoshikawa; son Steven (Margaret); daughter Faye; brothers, Susumu (Joan); and Jim; and sister, Helen Nakayama.
Source: Published in the Fresno Bee on November 13, 2011
