Carson City woman turns 100, family reflects on Japanese internment camp experience, building family with love as foundation
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Tue, 03/02/2021 - 12:05pm
Mitsuye (Mitzi) Hoshino of Carson City is one of the most amazing people that I have met in my lifetime. On March 3, 2021 Mitsuye will officially be 100 years old. That alone is quite a feat however there is much more to her story.
Mitsuye was born in San Juan Batista, California in 1921. She was actually born on February 22, which that year was Presidents’ Day. Her mother felt the girl should not have her birthday on a man’s holiday so she had her birthday changed to March 3 which was Girl’s Day in Japan.
Mitsuye’s parents had a farm in San Juan Batista and she grew up there with her two younger brothers. They had a small farm and not much money so children began working very early. When Mitsuye was about 10 years old her father died. Her mother was unable to keep the farm and she sent the children away to relatives in Japan so she could work all day to make enough money to pay for their living.
Nine years later, in 1940, Mitsuye returned to the USA and reunited with her mother in San Juan Batista. The joy of the reunion was short-lived. Within a year Pearl Harbor was bombed and Japanese-Americans on the West Coast were put into internment camps. The family had to lose most of their other belongings. They could only bring what would fit in one suitcase. While waiting for their camp to be built, they lived in the stalls at Santa Anita Racetrack. Mitsuye and her mother ended up in the camp at Heart Mountain, Wyoming.
The buildings there were only wooden walls, no insulation. It was not an easy life. After a couple of years in Wyoming, Mitsuye was transferred to Boulder, Colorado. While working there, still in internment, she met her soon-to-be husband, Hiromichi (Henry) Hoshino, working at the Japanese Language Institute at the University. That is another amazing story for another time.
Mitsuye and Hiromichi were married in 1945 and moved to the West Coast. It was difficult for Japanese-Americans to get many jobs in those days. Mitsuye ended up getting a job as a maid and cook, while Hiromichi got a job as a gardener for a well-to-do family in Central California. They worked very hard and eventually made enough money to move up to Northern California and purchase a small home. They had three children; Henry, Frank, and Lily.
Mitsuye got a job cleaning of warehouse that was the beginnings of Fairchild Corporation. Mitsuye rose through the ranks and ended up retiring as quality control manager. The family would have amazing family celebrations where Mitsuye and family would do most of the cooking. She would make many of the traditional Japanese foods and family would come together for big parties.
Hiromichi was a self-made man and ended up having a career at Sylvania. After retiring from there he started a new career as a Japanese translator. He had a great career there for some time until one day when a potential client called for a possible job for Hiromichi, Mitsuye said he had just retired. She just decided it was time for the two of them to take time to enjoy life together. So for the next few years they traveled around the world with family and friends, taking in all the beautiful places they’ve long heard of but never seen.
At about that same time they had grandchildren and truly enjoyed traveling and spending time with them.
They really lived quite the life as a couple. I was fortunate to know them as a couple for some years. I will never forget the very first time I met Mitsuye.
She was in her 80s and was coming off an elevator at hotel and had a walker. It looked like she was having a difficult time getting the walker out of the elevator so I stepped near to help. You see, I was on the date with her daughter Lily, my soon-to-be wife. This was our very first meeting. As I helped Mitsuye out of the elevator she quickly grabbed my arm and said what a nice man I am and other flattering complements. As I sat with them that evening, my heart felt so full and overjoyed. Mitsuye is this beautiful woman with the most tender, kind, and gentle heart. Lily and I were falling in love at that time.
That evening with the four of us was so amazing on all levels. We were married two years later.
After 62 years of marriage, Hiromichi died in 2010 at the age of 97. He was nine years older than Mitsuye. A few years later Mitsuye’s health became more challenging. Their eldest son Henry, formerly a nurse, had been living with them and taking care of them for over 20 years at that time. Lily and I decided it was time for them to be closer to us and we moved them to Carson City.
Since moving out here Mitsuye was able to spend time with her grandchildren, attended the wedding of her eldest grandchild, and has been able to see all four great-grandchildren. Mitsuye is now in a memory care facility here in Carson City. She is everyone’s favorite and much loved. Though her short-term memory is not very good, she manages to greet everyone with loving kindness every day.
When we were able to visit there it was remarkable to see the new and dear friends she made and how genuine the staff is to her and everyone there.
Just after COVID began, my Lily, Mitsuye’s daughter, was able to see her mother one last time to let her know that she was in hospice, her cancer was too aggressive, and would die soon. That tender moment where Lily was able to hug her mother and kiss her on the cheek one last time is one that will be forever etched in my memory. The love, the tenderness, the beauty, was ever present for everyone to see.
Our family has not been able to visit much with Mitsuye since COVID. However, twice she has tested positive for COVID, and both times been asymptomatic. Her doctor says she is bulletproof and will outlive us all.
Mitsuye’s life has been full of adversities and challenges that would destroy a lot of people. She has met every adversity with her will and positive attitude. In 100 years of life the strongest personality trait that she exhibits is love and appreciation for everyone she comes in contact with.
That makes for an amazing story. That is my mother-in-law and I love her so dearly and cannot wait to see her and wish her a very happy 100th birthday!
