GEORGE HOSHIDA
Born: 1907
Died: April 22 1985
Birth Location: Kumamoto, Japan
George Hoshida (1907-85) was an Issei who documented his experiences and observations of numerous World War II internment and concentration in Hawai'i and the Mainland United States in intricate series of drawings and paintings.
He was born in Kumamoto, Japan, and immigrated to Hilo, Hawai'i, in 1912 at age four with his family. His formal education ended after he graduated from junior high school. He eventually found work at the Hilo Electric Company, then later married and started a family. He was also involved in Buddhist temple activities and had a keen interest in judo, serving as the president of a Big Island judo federation.
Courtesy of Patricia Wakida, Densho
Died: April 22 1985
Birth Location: Kumamoto, Japan
George Hoshida (1907-85) was an Issei who documented his experiences and observations of numerous World War II internment and concentration in Hawai'i and the Mainland United States in intricate series of drawings and paintings.
He was born in Kumamoto, Japan, and immigrated to Hilo, Hawai'i, in 1912 at age four with his family. His formal education ended after he graduated from junior high school. He eventually found work at the Hilo Electric Company, then later married and started a family. He was also involved in Buddhist temple activities and had a keen interest in judo, serving as the president of a Big Island judo federation.
Courtesy of Patricia Wakida, Densho
Fort Sam Houston Internment Camp, Texas
Maker Hoshida, George
Date June 10, 1942
Medium ink, watercolor, paper, laminate
Dimensions H: 6 in, W: 9.5 in
Hoshida, George. “Fort Sam Houston Internment Camp, Texas.” 10 June 1942. “George Hoshida Collection”. Featured Collections. Museum Collection. Research & Collections. Japanese American National Museum. 8 Feb 2022, 22:00 PST.
<https://janm.emuseum.com/objects/63276/fort-sam-houston-internment-camp-texas>
Maker Hoshida, George
Date June 10, 1942
Medium ink, watercolor, paper, laminate
Dimensions H: 6 in, W: 9.5 in
Hoshida, George. “Fort Sam Houston Internment Camp, Texas.” 10 June 1942. “George Hoshida Collection”. Featured Collections. Museum Collection. Research & Collections. Japanese American National Museum. 8 Feb 2022, 22:00 PST.
<https://janm.emuseum.com/objects/63276/fort-sam-houston-internment-camp-texas>
Kilauea military detention camp, 8-25-42
Maker Hoshida, George
Date August 25, 1942
Medium ink, watercolor, paper, laminate
Dimensions H: 6 in, W: 9.5 in
Hoshida, George. “Kilauea military detention camp, 8-25-42.” 25 Aug 1942. “George Hoshida Collection”. Featured Collections. Museum Collection. Research & Collections. Japanese American National Museum. 14 Jan 2022, 21:40 PST.
<https://janm.emuseum.com/objects/10924/kilauea-military-detention-camp-82542?ctx=d9df642f04712e0034f389857aa0d04e2b5a9358&idx=3>
Maker Hoshida, George
Date August 25, 1942
Medium ink, watercolor, paper, laminate
Dimensions H: 6 in, W: 9.5 in
Hoshida, George. “Kilauea military detention camp, 8-25-42.” 25 Aug 1942. “George Hoshida Collection”. Featured Collections. Museum Collection. Research & Collections. Japanese American National Museum. 14 Jan 2022, 21:40 PST.
<https://janm.emuseum.com/objects/10924/kilauea-military-detention-camp-82542?ctx=d9df642f04712e0034f389857aa0d04e2b5a9358&idx=3>
Gila River camp outdoor theater, Arizona, 5-4-45
Maker Hoshida, George
Date May 4, 1945
Medium ink, paper, tape
Dimensions H: 6 in, W: 9.5 in
Ink drawing of people gathered outside the outdoor theater at Butte camp of the Gila River Relocation Center, Rivers, Arizona on May 4, 1945.
Hoshida, George. “Gila River camp outdoor theater, Arizona, 5-4-45”. 4 May1945. “George Hoshida Collection”. Featured Collections. Museum Collection. Research & Collections. Japanese American National Museum. 9 Feb 2022, 3:14 PST. <https://janm.emuseum.com/objects/15078/gila-river-camp-outdoor-theater-arizona-5445?ctx=79b2e0c12479d52041b80a9434bc3baa443de665&idx=257>
Maker Hoshida, George
Date May 4, 1945
Medium ink, paper, tape
Dimensions H: 6 in, W: 9.5 in
Ink drawing of people gathered outside the outdoor theater at Butte camp of the Gila River Relocation Center, Rivers, Arizona on May 4, 1945.
Hoshida, George. “Gila River camp outdoor theater, Arizona, 5-4-45”. 4 May1945. “George Hoshida Collection”. Featured Collections. Museum Collection. Research & Collections. Japanese American National Museum. 9 Feb 2022, 3:14 PST. <https://janm.emuseum.com/objects/15078/gila-river-camp-outdoor-theater-arizona-5445?ctx=79b2e0c12479d52041b80a9434bc3baa443de665&idx=257>
Lordsburg I. Camp ametuer [sic] show, compound 2 : 10-3-42
Maker Hoshida, George
Date October 3, 1942
Medium ink, watercolor, paper, laminate
Dimensions H: 6 in, W: 9.5 in
Drawings of curtained stage of an amateur talent show. The "Cherry Blossom Theater" at Lordsburg Justice Department Camp, New Mexico.
Japanese text on curtains indicate it was donated by the women in the Seagoville camp, Texas.
Hoshida, George. “Lordsburg I. Camp ametuer [sic] show, compound 2:10-3-42”. 3 Oct 1942. “George Hoshida Collection”. Featured Collections. Museum Collection. Research & Collections. Japanese American National Museum. 9 Feb 2022, 1:41 PST. <https://janm.emuseum.com/objects/16446/lordsburg-i-camp-ametuer-sic-show-compound-2--10342?ctx=0e8edd6f9e1f2a4ddbc8f8f8be23d0c8af7e69cb&idx=69>
Maker Hoshida, George
Date October 3, 1942
Medium ink, watercolor, paper, laminate
Dimensions H: 6 in, W: 9.5 in
Drawings of curtained stage of an amateur talent show. The "Cherry Blossom Theater" at Lordsburg Justice Department Camp, New Mexico.
Japanese text on curtains indicate it was donated by the women in the Seagoville camp, Texas.
Hoshida, George. “Lordsburg I. Camp ametuer [sic] show, compound 2:10-3-42”. 3 Oct 1942. “George Hoshida Collection”. Featured Collections. Museum Collection. Research & Collections. Japanese American National Museum. 9 Feb 2022, 1:41 PST. <https://janm.emuseum.com/objects/16446/lordsburg-i-camp-ametuer-sic-show-compound-2--10342?ctx=0e8edd6f9e1f2a4ddbc8f8f8be23d0c8af7e69cb&idx=69>
Art Class, 7:30 PM, 2-15-43
Maker Hoshida, George
Date February 15, 1943
Medium ink, paper, laminate
Dimensions H: 6 in, W: 9.5 in
Ink sketch of fifteen men in art class, some identified by inscription, at Lordsburg Justice Department camp, New Mexico in the evening of February 15, 1943. Five men in front at two tables hold writing or drawing implements in their right hands and work on a tablets in front of them (left to right): Tamura, Shimabukuro, Inouye, Maehara, Kawabe of Alaska. Hyodo and Reverend Akohashi are seated in the second row on the left. Murakami is seated on far right, second row.
Hoshida, George. “ArtClass, 7:30 PM, 2-15-43”. 15 Feb 1943. “George Hoshida Collection”. Featured Collections. Museum Collection. Research & Collections. Japanese American National Museum. 9 Feb 2022, 2:56 PST. <https://janm.emuseum.com/objects/63172/art-class-730-pm-21543?ctx=a2859f377ef523427de7bf71abf69cb332796612&idx=224>
Maker Hoshida, George
Date February 15, 1943
Medium ink, paper, laminate
Dimensions H: 6 in, W: 9.5 in
Ink sketch of fifteen men in art class, some identified by inscription, at Lordsburg Justice Department camp, New Mexico in the evening of February 15, 1943. Five men in front at two tables hold writing or drawing implements in their right hands and work on a tablets in front of them (left to right): Tamura, Shimabukuro, Inouye, Maehara, Kawabe of Alaska. Hyodo and Reverend Akohashi are seated in the second row on the left. Murakami is seated on far right, second row.
Hoshida, George. “ArtClass, 7:30 PM, 2-15-43”. 15 Feb 1943. “George Hoshida Collection”. Featured Collections. Museum Collection. Research & Collections. Japanese American National Museum. 9 Feb 2022, 2:56 PST. <https://janm.emuseum.com/objects/63172/art-class-730-pm-21543?ctx=a2859f377ef523427de7bf71abf69cb332796612&idx=224>
Chushingura “Kudanme”
Maker Hoshida, George
Date March 14, 1943
Medium ink, paper, laminate
Dimensions H: 9.5 in, W: 6 in
Lordsburg Justice Department Camp, New Mexico
Top sketch of performance of "Kudanme" scene 9 of Chushingura with three female figures dressed in kimono
Bottom sketch of two men playing violin and shakuhachi duet.
Hoshida, George. “Chushingura “Kudanme””. 14 March 1943. “George Hoshida Collection”. Featured Collections. Museum Collection. Research & Collections. Japanese American National Museum. 9 Feb 2022, 2:28 PST.
<https://janm.emuseum.com/objects/20302/chushingura-kudanme?ctx=44591e47fae8fce6b6a6b03035886a47ec58364b&idx=137>
Maker Hoshida, George
Date March 14, 1943
Medium ink, paper, laminate
Dimensions H: 9.5 in, W: 6 in
Lordsburg Justice Department Camp, New Mexico
Top sketch of performance of "Kudanme" scene 9 of Chushingura with three female figures dressed in kimono
Bottom sketch of two men playing violin and shakuhachi duet.
Hoshida, George. “Chushingura “Kudanme””. 14 March 1943. “George Hoshida Collection”. Featured Collections. Museum Collection. Research & Collections. Japanese American National Museum. 9 Feb 2022, 2:28 PST.
<https://janm.emuseum.com/objects/20302/chushingura-kudanme?ctx=44591e47fae8fce6b6a6b03035886a47ec58364b&idx=137>
Rokyoku “Mori no Ishimatsu” : Tanaka
Maker Hoshida, George
Date October 3, 1942
Medium ink, paper, laminate
Dimensions H: 9.5 in, W: 6 in
Lordsburg Justice Department Camp, New Mexico
Ink drawings of men performing in a talent show on October 3, 1942, including storytelling, singing and a sword dance, with inscriptions in Japanese.
Top drawing numbered 4, is a wide view of stage with a man in a suit and glasses, Tanaka, standing behind a cloth covered podium reciting the famous Yakuza story, "Mori no Ishimatsu" ; Japanese characters on podium indicate it is a present from Tanaka Torazo.
Middle drawing numbered 5 of a man, Sakai, dressed in a cowboy outfit holding a stick with a horsehead in his proper right hand as he tells a comical story called "Cowboy".
Bottom left drawing numbered 6 of man, Hama, in glasses standing behind podium reciting a song he wrote called "My people in Alaska".
Bottom right drawing numbered 7 of a man, Sakurada, dressed in a hakama performing a sword dance
Hoshida, George. “Rokyoku “Mori no Ishimatsu” : Tanaka”. 3 Oct 1942. “George Hoshida Collection”. Featured Collections. Museum Collection. Research & Collections. Japanese American National Museum. 9 Feb 2022, 0:51 PST.
<https://janm.emuseum.com/objects/9489/rokyoku-mori-no-ishimatsu--tanaka?ctx=12d2f9a72aad0fb10fc180cd2f74c78cb874693e&idx=164>
Maker Hoshida, George
Date October 3, 1942
Medium ink, paper, laminate
Dimensions H: 9.5 in, W: 6 in
Lordsburg Justice Department Camp, New Mexico
Ink drawings of men performing in a talent show on October 3, 1942, including storytelling, singing and a sword dance, with inscriptions in Japanese.
Top drawing numbered 4, is a wide view of stage with a man in a suit and glasses, Tanaka, standing behind a cloth covered podium reciting the famous Yakuza story, "Mori no Ishimatsu" ; Japanese characters on podium indicate it is a present from Tanaka Torazo.
Middle drawing numbered 5 of a man, Sakai, dressed in a cowboy outfit holding a stick with a horsehead in his proper right hand as he tells a comical story called "Cowboy".
Bottom left drawing numbered 6 of man, Hama, in glasses standing behind podium reciting a song he wrote called "My people in Alaska".
Bottom right drawing numbered 7 of a man, Sakurada, dressed in a hakama performing a sword dance
Hoshida, George. “Rokyoku “Mori no Ishimatsu” : Tanaka”. 3 Oct 1942. “George Hoshida Collection”. Featured Collections. Museum Collection. Research & Collections. Japanese American National Museum. 9 Feb 2022, 0:51 PST.
<https://janm.emuseum.com/objects/9489/rokyoku-mori-no-ishimatsu--tanaka?ctx=12d2f9a72aad0fb10fc180cd2f74c78cb874693e&idx=164>
Playing “Go” K5-BA, 8-24-42
Pipe Manufacturing, 10-8-42
Maker Hoshida, George
Date August 24, 1942, October 8, 1942
Medium ink, paper, laminate
Dimensions H: 6 in, W: 9.5 in
Lordsburg Justice Department Camp, New Mexico
Top watercolor of two men playing a Go game while other three men watch, identified left to right: T. Shindo, K.Kagawa, K.Kawasaki, G. Arita, T.Nakatsu. Kagawa, seated with back to viewer plays Go with Kawasaki, seated with back to window ; Shindo stands at left ; Arita sits next to Kagawa and Nakatsu sits on table.
Bottom sketch of four men seated on floor between bunks in front of open doorway manufacturing pipes while another man stands in doorway looking down. Another man with glasses and pipe in mouth is seated on one of three metal-framed beds at right doing something on a flat surface. Men identified left to right: T. Kanno, Tamura, Imamura, Ushiroji, Takata, K. Kanno.
Hoshida, George. “Playing “Go” K5-BA, 8-24-42”. 24 Aug 1942. “Pipe Manufacturing, 10-8-42”. 8 Oct 1942 “George Hoshida Collection”. Featured Collections. Museum Collection. Research & Collections. Japanese American National Museum. 9 Feb 2022, 1:23 PST. <https://janm.emuseum.com/objects/8699/playing-go-k5ba-82442?ctx=c1f649f4b45fa2d11491993346824d9c6680c9b5&idx=38>
Pipe Manufacturing, 10-8-42
Maker Hoshida, George
Date August 24, 1942, October 8, 1942
Medium ink, paper, laminate
Dimensions H: 6 in, W: 9.5 in
Lordsburg Justice Department Camp, New Mexico
Top watercolor of two men playing a Go game while other three men watch, identified left to right: T. Shindo, K.Kagawa, K.Kawasaki, G. Arita, T.Nakatsu. Kagawa, seated with back to viewer plays Go with Kawasaki, seated with back to window ; Shindo stands at left ; Arita sits next to Kagawa and Nakatsu sits on table.
Bottom sketch of four men seated on floor between bunks in front of open doorway manufacturing pipes while another man stands in doorway looking down. Another man with glasses and pipe in mouth is seated on one of three metal-framed beds at right doing something on a flat surface. Men identified left to right: T. Kanno, Tamura, Imamura, Ushiroji, Takata, K. Kanno.
Hoshida, George. “Playing “Go” K5-BA, 8-24-42”. 24 Aug 1942. “Pipe Manufacturing, 10-8-42”. 8 Oct 1942 “George Hoshida Collection”. Featured Collections. Museum Collection. Research & Collections. Japanese American National Museum. 9 Feb 2022, 1:23 PST. <https://janm.emuseum.com/objects/8699/playing-go-k5ba-82442?ctx=c1f649f4b45fa2d11491993346824d9c6680c9b5&idx=38>
Tomizo Kanno, Age 39, Hawaii
Yohei Kaneda, Age 60, Naalehu, Hawaii
Maker Hoshida, George
Date July 28, 1942
Medium ink, paper, laminate
Dimensions H: 6 in, W: 9.5 in
Lordsburg Justice Department Camp, New Mexico
Left portrait of Tomizo Kanno, a 39 year-old employee at Hilo sake brewing company of Hilo, Hawaii, originally from Fukushima, Japan.
Right portrait of Yohei Kaneda, a 60 year-old farmer of Naalehu, Hawaii, originally from Hiroshima, Japan.
Hoshida, George. “Tomizo Kanno, Age 39, Hawaii”. “Yohei Kaneda, Age 60, Naalehu, Hawaii”. 28 July 1942 “George Hoshida Collection”. Featured Collections. Museum Collection. Research & Collections. Japanese American National Museum. 9 Feb 2022, 2:08 PST. <https://janm.emuseum.com/objects/64322/tomizo-kanno-age-39-hawaii-72842?ctx=adc4e5a5afddce49d917ccaaf88725397e7bba2e&idx=48>
Yohei Kaneda, Age 60, Naalehu, Hawaii
Maker Hoshida, George
Date July 28, 1942
Medium ink, paper, laminate
Dimensions H: 6 in, W: 9.5 in
Lordsburg Justice Department Camp, New Mexico
Left portrait of Tomizo Kanno, a 39 year-old employee at Hilo sake brewing company of Hilo, Hawaii, originally from Fukushima, Japan.
Right portrait of Yohei Kaneda, a 60 year-old farmer of Naalehu, Hawaii, originally from Hiroshima, Japan.
Hoshida, George. “Tomizo Kanno, Age 39, Hawaii”. “Yohei Kaneda, Age 60, Naalehu, Hawaii”. 28 July 1942 “George Hoshida Collection”. Featured Collections. Museum Collection. Research & Collections. Japanese American National Museum. 9 Feb 2022, 2:08 PST. <https://janm.emuseum.com/objects/64322/tomizo-kanno-age-39-hawaii-72842?ctx=adc4e5a5afddce49d917ccaaf88725397e7bba2e&idx=48>
Looking towards lower mess hall, Santa Fe D.S.
Looking east at outdoor stage
Maker Hoshida, George
Date November 13, 1943
Medium ink, watercolor, paper
Dimensions H: 9.5 in, W: 6 in
Santa Fe Detention Station.
Hoshida, George. “Looking towards lower mess hall, Santa Fe D.S.” & “Looking east at outdoor stage”. 13 Nov 1943. “George Hoshida Collection”. Featured Collections. Museum Collection. Research & Collections. Japanese American National Museum. 8 Feb 2022, 22:08 PST. <https://janm.emuseum.com/objects/21025/looking-towards-lower-mess-hall-santa-fe-ds?ctx=dbf70b37833ea61ff6f228303990b0214f1b09e0&idx=23>
Looking east at outdoor stage
Maker Hoshida, George
Date November 13, 1943
Medium ink, watercolor, paper
Dimensions H: 9.5 in, W: 6 in
Santa Fe Detention Station.
Hoshida, George. “Looking towards lower mess hall, Santa Fe D.S.” & “Looking east at outdoor stage”. 13 Nov 1943. “George Hoshida Collection”. Featured Collections. Museum Collection. Research & Collections. Japanese American National Museum. 8 Feb 2022, 22:08 PST. <https://janm.emuseum.com/objects/21025/looking-towards-lower-mess-hall-santa-fe-ds?ctx=dbf70b37833ea61ff6f228303990b0214f1b09e0&idx=23>
Special thanks to:
Clement Hanami, Japanese American National Museum
Alvin Takamori, GVJCI Day of Remembrance committee member
Patricia Wakida, Densho
Clement Hanami, Japanese American National Museum
Alvin Takamori, GVJCI Day of Remembrance committee member
Patricia Wakida, Densho