Half-Sister of Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient James K. Okubo
Toshi, as she was known to her family and friends, was born on Fukuoka-ken, Kyushu Island, Japan on 5 November 1904 to Fuyu Kanzaki.
Toshi's parentage is a bit of a mystery, at least to me. I have not yet found any record of her mother's marriage prior to 1907. Kenzo Okubo immigrated to the U.S. in 1900, and he stated in his War Relocation Authority record that he did not return to Japan prior to 1915. Fuyu came to the U.S. for the first time in 1907. So it is not possible that Kenzo was her father, although he may have adopted her. Kenzo’s children were firm in their understanding that Toshi was not his daughter.
Childhood and Education
Toshi did not accompany her mother to Washington State in 1907, but instead was raised entirely in Japan by her Kanzaki relatives until almost 16 years of age. Thus, she would have spoken and written in Japanese.
In early July 1920, Toshi was brought to Seattle to rejoin her mother and OKUBO family by her Aunt Yukino KUNIMATSU and Uncle Isekichi KUNIMATSU. On the passenger manifest of the Hawaii-maru they are listed as Isekichi, fisherman, 41, and Yukino, housewife, 39, arriving from Yokohama, Japan with with their children Umeko, 10, Saburo 5, and Shiro 2, as well as Toshiko KANZAKI, 15 years, 7 months, following a visit with his mother, F. Kunimatsu, at Asakura-Kawamura, Fukuoka-Ken, Japan.
She received 8 years of schooling in Japan [WRA Records, Manzanar].
Toshi was enumerated with Kenzo and Fuyu Okubo in the 1921 Anacortes School Census, along with Hirami, Sumi, and Tomi. At the time Kenzo worked for Robinson Fishery.
At the time of her marriage in 1924, Toshi was a resident of Seattle, King Co., Washington.
Marriages
Toshi married first Masaru Edward “Eddy” Sugii on 12 March 1924 at the Buddhist Church of Seattle, Seattle, King Co., Washington. Her father witnessed the wedding officiated by Rev. Doro Kanda.
In 1930, Toshi and Masaru Sugii were enumerated at Seattle, King Co., Washington, along with their daughter Masako Martha Sugii, aged 5, where Eddy was a cook at a restaurant there. Masako was born 1924 in Washington State. In 1930, Masako was enumerated with her grandparents Kenzo and Fuyu Okubo at Bellingham, Whatcom Co., Washington and with her parents at Seattle.
Toshi probably divorced Eddy by 1935, when he lived at Tacoma, Pierce Co., Washington.
Toshi married second Ikuo Kumo Matsuo, on 22 January 1935 in Los Angeles, California.
Toshi, Ikuo, and her daughter Masako were enumerated at Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California in 1940, where he worked on a vegetable farm.
Toshi and her family remained in Los Angeles until their relocation in 1942. Masako graduated from Roosevelt High School at Los Angeles in 1942.
Relocation to Manzanar in 1942
The attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese Navy on December 7, 1941, was to have a stunning and immediate impact on her family. They were now viewed as enemy aliens.
The U.S. Army moved rapidly to implement the President’s executive order to evacuate Japanese Americans from the West Coast. Notices were quickly posted notifying Japanese Americans of their impeding evacuation. They were given little time to sell their businesses, homes, and dispose of property that could not be taken to Internment Camp: they could only take what they could carry.
Toshi and her family were to spend the next 3 years and 3 months at the Manzanar Relocation Camp.
Camp life behind barbed wire was rugged, primitive, and monotonous. There were no sidewalks, so when it rained it was hard to get about on the muddy “streets” that connected the barracks. Their small barrack had barely been finished and was poorly furnished. It was covered in tar paper and was not effective in keeping out the cold, wind, and rain. A coal-burning stove provided heat and bare light bulbs provided light. The family itself shared a large one-room apartment with no partitions for privacy of the parents and children. Latrines, showers, mess halls, and laundry rooms were centrally located and shared with many other families. However, there was a hospital, schools, and other facilities. Internees were hired to staff these facilities.
Toshi, Ikuo and her daughter, Masako Martha (Sugii) Matsuo arrived at Manzanar Relocation Camp on 1 June 1942. Toshi and Ikuo were released from that Camp on 10 September 1945. Her daughter Masako had relocated to New York City, New York on 23 May 1945. Upon their release from Camp, Toshi and Ikuo first moved to Alamosa, Colorado.
Salt Lake City and Sacramento
In April 1951 and Feb. 1953 Toshi and Ikuo, by then residents of Salt Lake City, Utah, visited Alaska and Japan.
They removed to Sacramento, California by 1955, where they operated a restaurant called the Iris Grill until at least 1970.
Toshi died at aged 69 at Sacramento, Sacramento Co., California on 30 September 1974.
She was interred there at South Terrace East, East Lawn Memorial Park. Ikuo is buried next to her.
Biography by Tom Brocher, updated on 12 March 2021.
Toshi, as she was known to her family and friends, was born on Fukuoka-ken, Kyushu Island, Japan on 5 November 1904 to Fuyu Kanzaki.
Toshi's parentage is a bit of a mystery, at least to me. I have not yet found any record of her mother's marriage prior to 1907. Kenzo Okubo immigrated to the U.S. in 1900, and he stated in his War Relocation Authority record that he did not return to Japan prior to 1915. Fuyu came to the U.S. for the first time in 1907. So it is not possible that Kenzo was her father, although he may have adopted her. Kenzo’s children were firm in their understanding that Toshi was not his daughter.
Childhood and Education
Toshi did not accompany her mother to Washington State in 1907, but instead was raised entirely in Japan by her Kanzaki relatives until almost 16 years of age. Thus, she would have spoken and written in Japanese.
In early July 1920, Toshi was brought to Seattle to rejoin her mother and OKUBO family by her Aunt Yukino KUNIMATSU and Uncle Isekichi KUNIMATSU. On the passenger manifest of the Hawaii-maru they are listed as Isekichi, fisherman, 41, and Yukino, housewife, 39, arriving from Yokohama, Japan with with their children Umeko, 10, Saburo 5, and Shiro 2, as well as Toshiko KANZAKI, 15 years, 7 months, following a visit with his mother, F. Kunimatsu, at Asakura-Kawamura, Fukuoka-Ken, Japan.
She received 8 years of schooling in Japan [WRA Records, Manzanar].
Toshi was enumerated with Kenzo and Fuyu Okubo in the 1921 Anacortes School Census, along with Hirami, Sumi, and Tomi. At the time Kenzo worked for Robinson Fishery.
At the time of her marriage in 1924, Toshi was a resident of Seattle, King Co., Washington.
Marriages
Toshi married first Masaru Edward “Eddy” Sugii on 12 March 1924 at the Buddhist Church of Seattle, Seattle, King Co., Washington. Her father witnessed the wedding officiated by Rev. Doro Kanda.
In 1930, Toshi and Masaru Sugii were enumerated at Seattle, King Co., Washington, along with their daughter Masako Martha Sugii, aged 5, where Eddy was a cook at a restaurant there. Masako was born 1924 in Washington State. In 1930, Masako was enumerated with her grandparents Kenzo and Fuyu Okubo at Bellingham, Whatcom Co., Washington and with her parents at Seattle.
Toshi probably divorced Eddy by 1935, when he lived at Tacoma, Pierce Co., Washington.
Toshi married second Ikuo Kumo Matsuo, on 22 January 1935 in Los Angeles, California.
Toshi, Ikuo, and her daughter Masako were enumerated at Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California in 1940, where he worked on a vegetable farm.
Toshi and her family remained in Los Angeles until their relocation in 1942. Masako graduated from Roosevelt High School at Los Angeles in 1942.
Relocation to Manzanar in 1942
The attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese Navy on December 7, 1941, was to have a stunning and immediate impact on her family. They were now viewed as enemy aliens.
The U.S. Army moved rapidly to implement the President’s executive order to evacuate Japanese Americans from the West Coast. Notices were quickly posted notifying Japanese Americans of their impeding evacuation. They were given little time to sell their businesses, homes, and dispose of property that could not be taken to Internment Camp: they could only take what they could carry.
Toshi and her family were to spend the next 3 years and 3 months at the Manzanar Relocation Camp.
Camp life behind barbed wire was rugged, primitive, and monotonous. There were no sidewalks, so when it rained it was hard to get about on the muddy “streets” that connected the barracks. Their small barrack had barely been finished and was poorly furnished. It was covered in tar paper and was not effective in keeping out the cold, wind, and rain. A coal-burning stove provided heat and bare light bulbs provided light. The family itself shared a large one-room apartment with no partitions for privacy of the parents and children. Latrines, showers, mess halls, and laundry rooms were centrally located and shared with many other families. However, there was a hospital, schools, and other facilities. Internees were hired to staff these facilities.
Toshi, Ikuo and her daughter, Masako Martha (Sugii) Matsuo arrived at Manzanar Relocation Camp on 1 June 1942. Toshi and Ikuo were released from that Camp on 10 September 1945. Her daughter Masako had relocated to New York City, New York on 23 May 1945. Upon their release from Camp, Toshi and Ikuo first moved to Alamosa, Colorado.
Salt Lake City and Sacramento
In April 1951 and Feb. 1953 Toshi and Ikuo, by then residents of Salt Lake City, Utah, visited Alaska and Japan.
They removed to Sacramento, California by 1955, where they operated a restaurant called the Iris Grill until at least 1970.
Toshi died at aged 69 at Sacramento, Sacramento Co., California on 30 September 1974.
She was interred there at South Terrace East, East Lawn Memorial Park. Ikuo is buried next to her.
Biography by Tom Brocher, updated on 12 March 2021.
Half-Sister of Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient James K. Okubo
Toshi, as she was known to her family and friends, was born on Fukuoka-ken, Kyushu Island, Japan on 5 November 1904 to Fuyu Kanzaki.
Toshi's parentage is a bit of a mystery, at least to me. I have not yet found any record of her mother's marriage prior to 1907. Kenzo Okubo immigrated to the U.S. in 1900, and he stated in his War Relocation Authority record that he did not return to Japan prior to 1915. Fuyu came to the U.S. for the first time in 1907. So it is not possible that Kenzo was her father, although he may have adopted her. Kenzo’s children were firm in their understanding that Toshi was not his daughter.
Childhood and Education
Toshi did not accompany her mother to Washington State in 1907, but instead was raised entirely in Japan by her Kanzaki relatives until almost 16 years of age. Thus, she would have spoken and written in Japanese.
In early July 1920, Toshi was brought to Seattle to rejoin her mother and OKUBO family by her Aunt Yukino KUNIMATSU and Uncle Isekichi KUNIMATSU. On the passenger manifest of the Hawaii-maru they are listed as Isekichi, fisherman, 41, and Yukino, housewife, 39, arriving from Yokohama, Japan with with their children Umeko, 10, Saburo 5, and Shiro 2, as well as Toshiko KANZAKI, 15 years, 7 months, following a visit with his mother, F. Kunimatsu, at Asakura-Kawamura, Fukuoka-Ken, Japan.
She received 8 years of schooling in Japan [WRA Records, Manzanar].
Toshi was enumerated with Kenzo and Fuyu Okubo in the 1921 Anacortes School Census, along with Hirami, Sumi, and Tomi. At the time Kenzo worked for Robinson Fishery.
At the time of her marriage in 1924, Toshi was a resident of Seattle, King Co., Washington.
Marriages
Toshi married first Masaru Edward “Eddy” Sugii on 12 March 1924 at the Buddhist Church of Seattle, Seattle, King Co., Washington. Her father witnessed the wedding officiated by Rev. Doro Kanda.
In 1930, Toshi and Masaru Sugii were enumerated at Seattle, King Co., Washington, along with their daughter Masako Martha Sugii, aged 5, where Eddy was a cook at a restaurant there. Masako was born 1924 in Washington State. In 1930, Masako was enumerated with her grandparents Kenzo and Fuyu Okubo at Bellingham, Whatcom Co., Washington and with her parents at Seattle.
Toshi probably divorced Eddy by 1935, when he lived at Tacoma, Pierce Co., Washington.
Toshi married second Ikuo Kumo Matsuo, on 22 January 1935 in Los Angeles, California.
Toshi, Ikuo, and her daughter Masako were enumerated at Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California in 1940, where he worked on a vegetable farm.
Toshi and her family remained in Los Angeles until their relocation in 1942. Masako graduated from Roosevelt High School at Los Angeles in 1942.
Relocation to Manzanar in 1942
The attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese Navy on December 7, 1941, was to have a stunning and immediate impact on her family. They were now viewed as enemy aliens.
The U.S. Army moved rapidly to implement the President’s executive order to evacuate Japanese Americans from the West Coast. Notices were quickly posted notifying Japanese Americans of their impeding evacuation. They were given little time to sell their businesses, homes, and dispose of property that could not be taken to Internment Camp: they could only take what they could carry.
Toshi and her family were to spend the next 3 years and 3 months at the Manzanar Relocation Camp.
Camp life behind barbed wire was rugged, primitive, and monotonous. There were no sidewalks, so when it rained it was hard to get about on the muddy “streets” that connected the barracks. Their small barrack had barely been finished and was poorly furnished. It was covered in tar paper and was not effective in keeping out the cold, wind, and rain. A coal-burning stove provided heat and bare light bulbs provided light. The family itself shared a large one-room apartment with no partitions for privacy of the parents and children. Latrines, showers, mess halls, and laundry rooms were centrally located and shared with many other families. However, there was a hospital, schools, and other facilities. Internees were hired to staff these facilities.
Toshi, Ikuo and her daughter, Masako Martha (Sugii) Matsuo arrived at Manzanar Relocation Camp on 1 June 1942. Toshi and Ikuo were released from that Camp on 10 September 1945. Her daughter Masako had relocated to New York City, New York on 23 May 1945. Upon their release from Camp, Toshi and Ikuo first moved to Alamosa, Colorado.
Salt Lake City and Sacramento
In April 1951 and Feb. 1953 Toshi and Ikuo, by then residents of Salt Lake City, Utah, visited Alaska and Japan.
They removed to Sacramento, California by 1955, where they operated a restaurant called the Iris Grill until at least 1970.
Toshi died at aged 69 at Sacramento, Sacramento Co., California on 30 September 1974.
She was interred there at South Terrace East, East Lawn Memorial Park. Ikuo is buried next to her.
Biography by Tom Brocher, updated on 12 March 2021.
Toshi, as she was known to her family and friends, was born on Fukuoka-ken, Kyushu Island, Japan on 5 November 1904 to Fuyu Kanzaki.
Toshi's parentage is a bit of a mystery, at least to me. I have not yet found any record of her mother's marriage prior to 1907. Kenzo Okubo immigrated to the U.S. in 1900, and he stated in his War Relocation Authority record that he did not return to Japan prior to 1915. Fuyu came to the U.S. for the first time in 1907. So it is not possible that Kenzo was her father, although he may have adopted her. Kenzo’s children were firm in their understanding that Toshi was not his daughter.
Childhood and Education
Toshi did not accompany her mother to Washington State in 1907, but instead was raised entirely in Japan by her Kanzaki relatives until almost 16 years of age. Thus, she would have spoken and written in Japanese.
In early July 1920, Toshi was brought to Seattle to rejoin her mother and OKUBO family by her Aunt Yukino KUNIMATSU and Uncle Isekichi KUNIMATSU. On the passenger manifest of the Hawaii-maru they are listed as Isekichi, fisherman, 41, and Yukino, housewife, 39, arriving from Yokohama, Japan with with their children Umeko, 10, Saburo 5, and Shiro 2, as well as Toshiko KANZAKI, 15 years, 7 months, following a visit with his mother, F. Kunimatsu, at Asakura-Kawamura, Fukuoka-Ken, Japan.
She received 8 years of schooling in Japan [WRA Records, Manzanar].
Toshi was enumerated with Kenzo and Fuyu Okubo in the 1921 Anacortes School Census, along with Hirami, Sumi, and Tomi. At the time Kenzo worked for Robinson Fishery.
At the time of her marriage in 1924, Toshi was a resident of Seattle, King Co., Washington.
Marriages
Toshi married first Masaru Edward “Eddy” Sugii on 12 March 1924 at the Buddhist Church of Seattle, Seattle, King Co., Washington. Her father witnessed the wedding officiated by Rev. Doro Kanda.
In 1930, Toshi and Masaru Sugii were enumerated at Seattle, King Co., Washington, along with their daughter Masako Martha Sugii, aged 5, where Eddy was a cook at a restaurant there. Masako was born 1924 in Washington State. In 1930, Masako was enumerated with her grandparents Kenzo and Fuyu Okubo at Bellingham, Whatcom Co., Washington and with her parents at Seattle.
Toshi probably divorced Eddy by 1935, when he lived at Tacoma, Pierce Co., Washington.
Toshi married second Ikuo Kumo Matsuo, on 22 January 1935 in Los Angeles, California.
Toshi, Ikuo, and her daughter Masako were enumerated at Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California in 1940, where he worked on a vegetable farm.
Toshi and her family remained in Los Angeles until their relocation in 1942. Masako graduated from Roosevelt High School at Los Angeles in 1942.
Relocation to Manzanar in 1942
The attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese Navy on December 7, 1941, was to have a stunning and immediate impact on her family. They were now viewed as enemy aliens.
The U.S. Army moved rapidly to implement the President’s executive order to evacuate Japanese Americans from the West Coast. Notices were quickly posted notifying Japanese Americans of their impeding evacuation. They were given little time to sell their businesses, homes, and dispose of property that could not be taken to Internment Camp: they could only take what they could carry.
Toshi and her family were to spend the next 3 years and 3 months at the Manzanar Relocation Camp.
Camp life behind barbed wire was rugged, primitive, and monotonous. There were no sidewalks, so when it rained it was hard to get about on the muddy “streets” that connected the barracks. Their small barrack had barely been finished and was poorly furnished. It was covered in tar paper and was not effective in keeping out the cold, wind, and rain. A coal-burning stove provided heat and bare light bulbs provided light. The family itself shared a large one-room apartment with no partitions for privacy of the parents and children. Latrines, showers, mess halls, and laundry rooms were centrally located and shared with many other families. However, there was a hospital, schools, and other facilities. Internees were hired to staff these facilities.
Toshi, Ikuo and her daughter, Masako Martha (Sugii) Matsuo arrived at Manzanar Relocation Camp on 1 June 1942. Toshi and Ikuo were released from that Camp on 10 September 1945. Her daughter Masako had relocated to New York City, New York on 23 May 1945. Upon their release from Camp, Toshi and Ikuo first moved to Alamosa, Colorado.
Salt Lake City and Sacramento
In April 1951 and Feb. 1953 Toshi and Ikuo, by then residents of Salt Lake City, Utah, visited Alaska and Japan.
They removed to Sacramento, California by 1955, where they operated a restaurant called the Iris Grill until at least 1970.
Toshi died at aged 69 at Sacramento, Sacramento Co., California on 30 September 1974.
She was interred there at South Terrace East, East Lawn Memorial Park. Ikuo is buried next to her.
Biography by Tom Brocher, updated on 12 March 2021.
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