Hisako Terasaki
Encyclopedia
Hisako Terasaki is a Japanese American
etcher.
to the United States at the turn of the twentieth century. Her father, Suichi Sumioka receive a degree in Engineering
from Stanford University
, but after encountering discrimination in his attempts to obtain a job, he eventually came to own a flower shop in East Los Angeles
. In 1942 in the midst of her parents' struggle to establish themselves, Hisako and her family, all United States citizens, were removed to Poston War Relocation Center
in Arizona
as part of Executive Order 9066
in response to the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor
. After World War II
the Sumioka family had to split up for a few years as each member worked to get the family back on its feet. Hisako working as a live-in house keeper while attending high school; her mother died when she was 18.
at Los Angeles City College
, but under pressure from her family to pursue a more practical career, she obtained her B.A.
degree in Education
from Los Angeles State College in 1954. During this year, she also married Paul Ichiro Terasaki
after meeting at their local Methodist church. They both were Nisei
generation, their parents having emigrated from Japan, and they had in common internment
during World War II
, and a relatively impoverished upbringing in East Los Angeles. After teaching elementary school
for one year, Terasaki had three sons and a daughter between 1954 and 1962. While raising a family and supporting what would become her husband's distinguished and busy academic career in Transplantation at UCLA, Terasaki pursued her activities in printmaking
, exhibiting mainly in the Los Angeles area. The subject matter of her work reflected her extensive travels accompanying her husband around the world and her constant care of four children. In fact, her most prolific period artistically was during the busy years of the 1970s and 1980s.
to the Japanese American community.
Japanese American
are American people of Japanese heritage. Japanese Americans have historically been among the three largest Asian American communities, but in recent decades have become the sixth largest group at roughly 1,204,205, including those of mixed-race or mixed-ethnicity...
etcher.
Early years
Terasaki's parents were economic migrants from JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
to the United States at the turn of the twentieth century. Her father, Suichi Sumioka receive a degree in Engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, but after encountering discrimination in his attempts to obtain a job, he eventually came to own a flower shop in East Los Angeles
East Los Angeles (region)
East Los Angeles is the portion of the City of Los Angeles that lies east of Downtown Los Angeles, the Los Angeles River and the unincorporated areas of Lincoln Heights, west of the San Gabriel Valley, East Los Angeles and City Terrace, south of Cypress Park, and north of Vernon, California and...
. In 1942 in the midst of her parents' struggle to establish themselves, Hisako and her family, all United States citizens, were removed to Poston War Relocation Center
Poston War Relocation Center
The Poston War Relocation Center, located in Yuma County of southwestern Arizona, was the largest of the ten American internment camps operated by the War Relocation Authority during World War II....
in Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
as part of Executive Order 9066
Executive Order 9066
United States Executive Order 9066 was a United States presidential executive order signed and issued during World War II by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt on February 19, 1942 authorizing the Secretary of War to prescribe certain areas as military zones...
in response to the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the Sumioka family had to split up for a few years as each member worked to get the family back on its feet. Hisako working as a live-in house keeper while attending high school; her mother died when she was 18.
Middle Years
Terasaki went on to study ArtArt
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
at Los Angeles City College
Los Angeles City College
Los Angeles City College, known as LACC, is a public community college in the East Hollywood section of Los Angeles, California. A part of the Los Angeles Community College District, it is located on Vermont Avenue south of Santa Monica Boulevard...
, but under pressure from her family to pursue a more practical career, she obtained her B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in Education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
from Los Angeles State College in 1954. During this year, she also married Paul Ichiro Terasaki
Paul Terasaki
Paul Ichiro Terasaki is a noted scientist in the field of human organ transplant technology and Professor Emeritus of Surgery at UCLA School of Medicine....
after meeting at their local Methodist church. They both were Nisei
Nisei
During the early years of World War II, Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated from their homes in the Pacific coast states because military leaders and public opinion combined to fan unproven fears of sabotage...
generation, their parents having emigrated from Japan, and they had in common internment
Internment
Internment is the imprisonment or confinement of people, commonly in large groups, without trial. The Oxford English Dictionary gives the meaning as: "The action of 'interning'; confinement within the limits of a country or place." Most modern usage is about individuals, and there is a distinction...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and a relatively impoverished upbringing in East Los Angeles. After teaching elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
for one year, Terasaki had three sons and a daughter between 1954 and 1962. While raising a family and supporting what would become her husband's distinguished and busy academic career in Transplantation at UCLA, Terasaki pursued her activities in printmaking
Printmaking
Printmaking is the process of making artworks by printing, normally on paper. Printmaking normally covers only the process of creating prints with an element of originality, rather than just being a photographic reproduction of a painting. Except in the case of monotyping, the process is capable...
, exhibiting mainly in the Los Angeles area. The subject matter of her work reflected her extensive travels accompanying her husband around the world and her constant care of four children. In fact, her most prolific period artistically was during the busy years of the 1970s and 1980s.
Later years
Once their children were grown, Terasaki and her husband became more involved in the Los Angeles community. They supported cultural, academic and church related activities, reflecting their life-long interests. Later in their lives, Paul and Hisako would be able to offer significant philanthropic supportPhilanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
to the Japanese American community.
Exhibitions
- 1978 The Framecompany, Los Gatos, CaliforniaLos Gatos, CaliforniaThe Town of Los Gatos is an incorporated town in Santa Clara County, California, United States. The population was 29,413 at the 2010 census. It is located in the San Francisco Bay Area at the southwest corner of San Jose in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains...
- 1979 Second Annual Bay Area Women's Graphic Arts Competition, California
- 1979 Los Angeles Art Association Gallery, California
- 1980 Los Angeles Art Association Gallery, California
- 1980 Garendo Gallery, Studio City, California
- 1980 Montalvo Art Center, Saratoga, CaliforniaSaratoga, CaliforniaSaratoga is a city in Santa Clara County, California, USA. It is located on the west side of the Santa Clara Valley, directly west of San Jose, in the San Francisco Bay area. The population was 29,926 at the 2010 census....
- 1981 San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, California
- 1981 Fourth Annual Print show, Westwood Center of the Arts, Los Angeles, California
- 1982 LAPS Membership Print Exhibition at the Multicultural Arts Institute, San Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
- 1983 Ninth International Miniature Print Exhibition, Pratt Graphics Center Gallery, New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
Philanthropic support
- UCLA Paul I and Hisako Terasaki Center for Japanese Studies,
- Japanese American National Museum, Los Angeles,
- The Pavilion, Los Angeles County Museum of ArtLos Angeles County Museum of ArtThe Los Angeles County Museum of Art is an art museum in Los Angeles, California. It is located on Wilshire Boulevard along Museum Row in the Miracle Mile vicinity of Los Angeles, adjacent to the George C. Page Museum and La Brea Tar Pits....
- National Japanese American Memorial Foundation Washington DC
- First United Methodist Church, Los Angeles
- UCLA Terasaki Life Sciences Building