Nao Takasugi was a Former Calif. State Assemblyman and JACL member 

By Pacific Citizen Staff
Published November 25, 2009

Nao Takasugi, a longtime political leader and JACL member, passed away Nov. 19 from complications from a stroke. He was 87 years old.

Takasugi served six years in the California State Assembly before terming out of office in 1998. Prior to serving in the legislature, he was elected to the Oxnard City Council in 1976 and was mayor from 1982 to 1992 before winning the assembly seat.

During World War II, while Takasugi was a student at UCLA, he and his family were incarcerated at the Gila River internment camp in Arizona.

Through the help of the Quaker organization, he was offered the chance to complete his business administration degree at Temple University in Philadelphia.

In 1945, he graduated from Temple and earned a Master's degree in business administration from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1946.

Takasugi was a longtime Ventura County JACL member.

Floyd Mori, JACL national director, served in the California State Assembly 10 years before Takasugi was elected.

“He was the beginning of the present resurgence of Asian American and Pacific Islander legislators among California elected officials. It was a privilege to have known him. He will be greatly missed,” said Mori.

Obituaries

Freire, Gloria M., 80
Sept. 19, Cleveland, OH. A member of the Cleveland Chapter JACL, Gloria was a social worker, assistant professor and civic leader. She is survived by husband, Luis, sons Michael (Jurate), Charles; 2 g.c.

Hishiki, Hiroshi, 91
Oct. 2, Los Angeles, CA. Worked for about 40 years in the publishing business and served as the editor and publisher of the Kashu Mainichi. He is survived by son, Dr. Marc R. Abrams, daughter Cindy Abrams, cousins and friends.

Keegan, Christopher Ray, 94
Oct. 11, Fort Belvoir, Virginia. The World War II commander of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team “H” Company. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at the Old Post Chapel at Fort Myer, Virginia Dec. 29. The burial with full military honors will follow at Arlington National Cemetery.

Kihara, Katomi John, 74
Sept. 29, Spokane, WA. Born in Auburn, WA, John worked for the city of Spokane until his retirement in 1998. He is survived by his mother, Shizue, brothers Frank (Diane), Bob (Joy), sisters Ayako Tanaka, Mary Barker, nieces and nephews.

Kino, Joe Hideo, 89
Oct. 18, Ontario, OR. A resident of Fruitland, ID. He is survived by his wife, Yasuko, children, Riki Shiraishi, Maxine (Ken) Teramura, Pauline (Dan) Catterson, Jim (Joan) Kino, Nancy (Larry) Massaro, Apryl (Rick) Bentley; 12 g.c.; 14 g.g.c.

O’Brien, Barry, 56
Sept. 20, Cleveland, OH. Barry is survived by his wife, Janice Toyota, son Kirin and mother Aileen O’Brien-Muth (Bob).

Shijo, Fusako “Effie”, 90
Aug. 11, Cleveland, OH. The wife of the late Yoshio, she is survived by her son, Ronald (Susan); 2 g.c.; 3 g.g.c.

Seko, Sachi Wada, 82
Nov. 10, Salt Lake City, UT. She once wrote a regular column for the Pacific Citizen entitled, “From Happy
Valley.” She is survived by her son Alan Kent Seko. According to her wishes, she was cremated and her ashes scattered.

Takemura, Herbert Show, 80
Sept. 22, Oxnard, CA. He worked as a computer paraeducator at the Oxnard Union High School District. He is survived by his wife, Sumiko, sisters Mary (Rev. Jack) Takayanagi, Martha Tsutsui, sister-in-law- Michiko (Jack) Hirai, nieces and nephews.

Tamura, Kazuma J., 88
Oct. 25, Portland, OR. A longtime farmer in Troutdale, OR. Survived by son Paul (Laura), daughter Pam (Mike) Oja; 3 g.c.

Tsukamoto, Masa, 86
Oct. 8, Boise, ID. A prominent potato farmer of Blackfoot, ID. He’s creditied with inventing and developing many popular farm implements, including the HeadStart Potato Planter Shoe, EZ Tarp system for trucks. Tsukamoto was involved in the establishment of the Minidoka Relocation Center monument in 1979.

Xiong, Kham, 23
Nov. 5, Fort Hood, TX. PFC Kham Xiong was one of 13 victims killed in the shooting at Fort Hood Army. Base in Texas. He grew up in California and moved to St. Paul, MN. He is survived by his wife, Shoua Her, 3 children, parents and 10 siblings.

Yorioka, Kengo, 97
Sept. 10, Vancouver, WA. A longtime resident of Spokane, WA, He is survived by son, Richard, daughters Patricia, Kathryn Migaki, Judy Wong; 6 g.c.; 3 g.g.c.