My Auntie Jane
May 18, 2026
I first met my Bachan and Auntie Jane when I was a freshman in 1971 on Okinawa. They had to evacuate from Laos where she was in charge of a University of Hawaii outreach program. She told me they had to leave everything behind including her American car. Both my brother Bob and my cousin Brian, who grew up in Hawaii, were unaware of her stature. We just knew that she had a PhD and was a professor at UH. She was the matriarch of our family and attended all family functions as she had cousins from Bachan’s side and her sister-in-law had an extensive family as well.
When I received my grades after my 1st year at the University of Portland in 1975, I called my aunt. I told her that I had received enough credits through CLEP to return the next year as a junior. I told her that I have a 3.97 GPA. She simply asked, “Why?” I thought rapidly and replied, “Because I got a B.” “Why?” she asked again. I can’t recall the rest of our conversation nor the class in which I received a B. I did realize she set the highest bar and anything else required reflection.
Jane, Hiro, my Dad Joe, Bachan, Yoshi, Mieko, John
Bachan & Her Children on Her 100th
My Bachan was widowed at the age of 37 when my grandfather was killed in a railroad accident on Oahu leaving her to raise 7 children. Her eldest passed away at the age of 19 from a sudden illness. Somewhere along the line, Bachan become a Buddhist Priestess.
Prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japan had send out a call for all of its citizens to return to the Homeland. Bachan heeded that call but the 3 older ones—my Auntie Jane, my Dad Joseph, and my Uncle John refused to go.
My Uncle Hiro was drafted into the IJA, and survived for 3 ½ years in a Siberian prison camp before being released.
Auntie Bea, Uncle John, cousin Brian, Bachan, Auntie Jane
