Yoshizumi, Kogan, 1894-1975

Born on 10 May 1894; admitted to Territory of Hawaii on 10 Oct. 1927; served as Buddhist priest of the Soto Mission of Aiea on Oahu; detained at Sand Island U.S. Army Internment Camp near Honolulu for six months beginning on 8 Dec. 1941; moved to various other internment camps until 1945 (including Fort Sam Houston, Tex., Lordsburg, N.M., and Santa Fe, N.M.) when he was released back to Hawaii; m. Take Yoshizumi; d. Mar. 1975.

From the description of Rev. Kogan Yoshizumi papers, 1942-1953. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 237004037

Biography / Administrative History

Reverend Kogan Yoshizumi was born on May 10, 1894. He was admitted to the Territory of Hawaii on October 10, 1927. From 1927, Yoshizumi was the Buddhist priest of the Soto Mission of Aiea on Oahu.

On December 8, 1941, a day after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Rev. Yoshizumi was apprehended and detained at Sand Island US Army Concentration Camp near Honolulu Harbor for about six months. On June 1, 1942, he was transferred from Sand Island to San Francisco, staying for three days before being transported to the concentration camp at Fort Sam Houston. He was removed from Fort Sam Houston on June 18, 1942 and sent to Lordsburg Concentration Camp in New Mexico, arriving June 20, 1942. After one year in Lordsburg, he was sent to the concentration camp in Santa Fe.

On April 10, 1945, Rev. Yoshizumi sent a petition to Major Stephen Farrand, Office of the Provost Marshal General, War Department, Washington D.C requesting parole in the Territory of Hawaii. This petition was then forwarded to the Office of Internal Security in Honolulu. On May 30, 1945, the Commanding General of the Pacific Ocean Areas approved his parole request and sent a recommendation to the Mainland authorities. On July 16, 1945, the War Department at Washington D.C made transportation arrangements for Rev. Yoshizumi and on November 1945, after fifty-one months living in concentration camps, Yoshizuma returned to his residential home in Hawaii. On February 1, 1946, he resumed his work at the Soto Mission of Aiea.

On July 2, 1948 Congress passed the Japanese American Evacuation Claims Act that provided some compensation for financial and property losses that might have occurred as a consequence of evacuation. However, Rev. Yoshizumi's compensation claim was dismissed on Feb 12, 1953.

Rev. Yoshizumi was married to Take Yoshizumi who passed away before him. Rev. Yoshizumi died in March 1975. He was survived by his two adopted daughters.

Timeline

• December 8, 1941: Detained at Sand Island, Honolulu Territory of Hawaii.
• May 23, 1942: Removed from Sand Island and sent to the United States mainland.
• June 1, 1942: Arrived in San Francisco, CA and left for Fort Sam Houston Texas on June 4.
• June 8, 1942: Arrived in Houston, Texas and left there for New Mexico on June 18.
• June 20, 1942: Arrived at Lordsburg Concentration Camp, in New Mexico.
• June 14, 1943: Transferred from Lordsburg to the Concentration Camp in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
• November, 1945: Returned to his residential home of Hawaii.

From the guide to the Rev. Kogan Yoshizumi papers, 1942-1953, (Japanese American National Museum (Los Angeles, Calif.))