Ogita, Tomoo

Tomoo Ogita was born in Los Angeles, California on February 23, 1924 to Japanese-born parents. During his youth he attended public school in Los Angeles and was also educated at a private Japanese language school. He attended classes at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor where he also taught Japanese in the Oriental Language Department. Photographic evidence places him at the Granada Relocation Center in Amache, Colorado in 1943. Whether or not Tomoo Ogita was interned or was simply assisting with the resettlement is uncertain, but his family appears to have been interned. In September 1945, Ogita was sent to Hiroshima as part of the Allied occupation of Japan where he served as special language and psychological consultant to the U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey. Following that project, he was assigned to the Civil Information and Education Section of General Headquarters, Supreme Commander of Allied Powers in Tokyo as researcher of cultural assets. At the close of his government career he worked in Korea for the U.S. Army's 7th Psychological Operations Group. While working in Asia, Ogita also formally studied the art and cultures of the Far East, learned Chinese and Korean, and served as the English language editor of the Journal of Japanese Archaeology. In 1968, Tomoo Ogita resigned from government service and returned from the Far East to his native California. He authored books and articles, lectured on Oriental art history at various California universities, and established Asia Art Associates, a business through which he appraised and authenticated art objects. Ogita was also an avid photographer and ceramicist. He lived in California with his second wife, Toshiko Ogita (née Oda) until his death in December 1983.

From the description of Tomoo Ogita photograph albums. circa 1920s-1973 1935 - 1957 (University of California, Irvine). WorldCat record id: 643138150

Biography

Tomoo Ogita was born in Los Angeles, California on February 23, 1924 to Japanese-born parents. During his youth he attended public school in Los Angeles and was also educated at a private Japanese language school. He attended classes at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor where he also taught Japanese in the Oriental Language Department. Photographic evidence places him at the Granada Relocation Center in Amache, Colorado in 1943. Whether or not Tomoo Ogita was interned or was simply assisting with the resettlement is uncertain, but his family appears to have been interned. In September 1945 Ogita was sent to Hiroshima as part of the Allied occupation of Japan where he served as special language and psychological consultant to the U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey. Following that project, he was assigned to the Civil Information and Education Section of General Headquarters, Supreme Commander of Allied Powers in Tokyo as researcher of cultural assets. At the close of his government career he worked in Korea for the U.S. Army's 7th Psychological Operations Group. While working in Asia, Ogita also formally studied the art and cultures of the Far East, learned Chinese and Korean, and served as the English language editor of the Journal of Japanese Archaeology .

In 1968 Tomoo Ogita resigned from government service and returned from the Far East to his native California. He authored books and articles, lectured on Oriental art history at various California universities, and established Asia Art Associates, a business through which he appraised and authenticated art objects. Ogita was also an avid photographer and ceramicist. He lived in California with his second wife, Toshiko Ogita (née Oda) until his death in December 1983.

From the guide to the Tomoo Ogita photograph albums, circa 1920s-1973, bulk 1935-1957, (University of California, Irvine. Library. Special Collections and Archives.)