Mamoru, Eto, 1883-1992.

Eto Mamoru was born in 1883, and was a native of Taketa City, Ōita prefecture in Japan; graduated from Kōbe First Middle School and Nihon Taiiku Daigaku; fought in Russo-Japanese War, 1904-05; was baptized as a Christian in Japan; instructor, Kwansei Gakuin Daigaku, 1914-17; came to the United States in 1917 to study physical education; was employed as an agricultural laborer, farmer, and gardener before becoming a Christian lay minister of the First Japanese Nazarene Church in Pasadena, CA; was interned at Gila River, AZ during World War II; officially ordained as a Nazarene Church minister in 1946, and lived in Seabrook and Bridgeton, NJ from 1944-80; was naturalized in 1955; lived in CA, 1980-92; became one of the first Issei recipients of wartime reparation, in 1990; he died in 1992.

From the description of Papers, 1918-1991. (University of California, Los Angeles). WorldCat record id: 39451922

Biography

Eto Mamoru was born in 1883, and was a native of Taketa City, Ōita prefecture in Japan; graduated from Kōbe First Middle School and Nihon Taiiku Daigaku; fought in Russo-Japanese War, 1904-05; was baptized as a Christian in Japan; instructor, Kwansei Gakuin Daigaku, 1914-17; came to the United States in 1917 to study physical education; was employed as an agricultural laborer, farmer, and gardener before becoming a Christian lay minister of the First Japanese Nazarene Church in Pasadena, California; was interned at Gila River, Arizona during World War II; officially ordained as a Nazarene Church minister in 1946, and lived in Seabrook and Bridgeton, New Jersey from 1944-80; was naturalized in 1955; lived in California, 1980-92; became one of the first Issei recipients of wartime reparation, in 1990; he died in 1992.

Additional Biographical Narrative

[characters] indicates Japanese characters included in the print version of this online finding aid, available for consultation at the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections.

Eto Mamoru [characters], 1883-1992. Issei Christian minister and longtime resident of California. Native, Taketa City, Ōita Prefecture [characters]. Graduate, Kōbe First Middle School [characters], and Nihon Taiiku Daigaku [characters]. Veteran, Russo-Japanese War, 1904-1905. Baptized as Christian in Japan. Instructor, Kwansei Gakuin Daigaku [characters], 1914-1917. Married, 1914. Wife, Tada Kura [characters], 1894-1942. Ten children: Hitoko, 1915-1994; Ken, 1919; Daniel, 1920; Joseph, 1921; Mitsuko, 1923; Mary, 1926; Esther, 1928-1988; Moses, 1929; David, 1931; and Ruth, 1931. Arrived in United States, 1917, to pursue studies in physical education. Sent for wife and eldest daughter, 1918. Variously employed as itinerant agriculture laborer, farmer, and gardener before becoming a Christian lay minister of the First Japanese Nazarene Church, Pasadena, California. Wife returned to Japan, 1933, and died there, 1942. Interned, Gila River, Arizona, during World War II. Official ordination as Nazarene Church minister, 1946, and resident of Seabrook and Bridgeton, New Jersey, 1944-1980. Naturalized, 1955. California resident, 1980-1992. One of the first Issei recipients of wartime reparation, 1990, Washington, D.C. at age of 107.

From the guide to the Reverend Eto Mamoru Papers, 1918-1991, (University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Department of Special Collections.)