Kobe Shoji Explained

Birth Date:27 July 1920
Birth Place:Upland, California, U.S.
Death Place:Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
Occupation:Agriculturist
Known For:Sugar cane expertise
Children:3, including Dave
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Serviceyears:1943–1945

Kobe Shoji (July 27, 1920November 13, 2004) was an American executive in the sugar cane industry, veteran of the 442nd Infantry Regiment, and athlete.[1] [2] [3] [4]

Early life

Shoji was born in Upland, California; his father, a Japanese immigrant, owned a lemon farm. He enrolled at Chaffey Junior College before transferring to Pomona College. He was active in athletics as a single-wing tailback and a long jumper for the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens.

Internment and military service

In his junior year, in response to Executive Order 9066, the college's president E. Wilson Lyon arranged for him and the college's other Japanese-American students to temporarily transfer to Oberlin College, but he instead elected to go into internment with his family.[5] He was relocated to the Poston War Relocation Center in Arizona, where he met his wife Chiz and endured heat of in the shade. The next year, he chose to enlist in the 442nd Infantry Regiment, a fighting unit composed almost entirely of second-generation Japanese-Americans which became the most decorated in U.S. military history.[6] [7] After completing basic training, he married Chiz at Poston in 1943 and was sent to Europe. He fought in southern France and Italy, attained the rank of First Sergeant, and was awarded two Purple Hearts for his service.[8]

Agricultural career

After returning from Europe, he completed his studies at Pomona in 1947.[9] In his final collegiate football game, his two front teeth were knocked out.

Shoji completed his doctorate in plant physiology at the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1950. That year, he moved with his family to Honolulu, Hawaii, to teach at the University of Hawaiʻi's College of Tropical Agriculture.

In 1960, he became the vice president and chief agriculturist for C. Brewer & Co. He spent four years travelling in Iran and Puerto Rico to assist them in developing their sugar cane industry. In 1975, he moved to Alexander & Baldwin.

Retirement, death, and legacy

Shoji retired in the late 1980s. He spent time with his sons playing golf, and was an active supporter of the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors and Rainbow Wahine. His son Dave became the team's women's volleyball coach.His grandsons, Dave’s sons Erik and Kawika, became professional volleyball players, appearing for the US national team.

Shoji had lung cancer and died at The Queen's Medical Center on November 13, 2004, of complications of pneumonia, while watching Dave coach a game.

In 2010, his regiment was awarded the Nisei Soldiers of World War II Congressional Gold Medal. Senator Mazie Hirono, speaking in support of it, used him as an example of the regiment's valor.[10]

References

  1. News: Luis. Cindy. November 15, 2004. Kobe Shoji / 1920–2004: Earned 2 Purple Hearts and raised Wahine coach. Honolulu Star-Bulletin. November 4, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20171111150834if_/http://archives.starbulletin.com/2004/11/15/sports/index6.html. November 11, 2017.
  2. News: Miller. Ann. November 15, 2004. Kobe Shoji, father of Dave Shoji. 19,26. The Honolulu Advertiser. November 4, 2021. Newspapers.com.
  3. News: November 12, 1986. Sugar technologists give awards to two. 41. The Honolulu Advertiser. November 4, 2021. Newspapers.com.
  4. News: Kakesako. Gregg K.. March 19, 1993. Legacy of the 442nd. 1,8. Honolulu Star-Bulletin. November 4, 2021. Newspapers.com.
  5. Farewell To Pomona. Hidden Pomona. Tidmarsh. Kevin. April 26, 2016. August 13, 2020. Desai. Saahil. en. 11–18.
  6. Web site: Shenkle. Kathryn. May 2006. Patriots under Fire: Japanese Americans in World War II. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130623035411/http://www.history.army.mil/html/topics/apam/patriots.html. June 23, 2013. June 6, 2014. United States Department of Defense, Department of the Army, Center of Military History.
  7. Book: Starr, Kevin. California: A History. 2005. Modern Library. 0-679-64240-4. 1st. New York. 59360288.
  8. News: December 19, 1945. Kobe Shoji Home After Fighting In Europe. 9. The Pomona Progress Bulletin. November 5, 2021.
  9. Web site: 1942. August 13, 2020. Pomona College Timeline. Pomona College. en.
  10. Web site: Congressional Record, Volume 156 Issue 129 (Thursday, September 23, 2010). November 4, 2021. www.govinfo.gov.