Guyo Tajiri

Guyo Tajiri
Born1915 Edit this on Wikidata
Died2007 Edit this on Wikidata (aged 91–92)
Alma mater
OccupationJournalist, editor Edit this on Wikidata
Employer

Guyo Tajiri (October 17, 1915 – 2007) was a Japanese American journalist. She was the first Asian-American woman accepted to the University of Missouri School of Journalism.[1][2] She also worked to transform the Pacific Citizen as an editor, a major Japanese American publication.[1]

Early life and education[edit]

Tajiri was born on October 17, 1915, and her birth name was Tsuguyo Marion Okagaki.[1][2] She had eight siblings.[1] Her father was Kichitaro Okagaki and he reported for the Japanese newspaper Shin Sekai, which translates to New World Sun.[1] During her teenage years, she worked as an unpaid assistant for the English-language section of her father's newspaper – Shin Sekai.[1]

In 1932 she became the first Asian woman to be accepted and enrolled at the University of Missouri's prestigious School of Journalism.[1][2] However, she would have to leave the University of Missouri after one semester.[1] She went on to attend San Jose State University and later the University of California, Berkeley.[1][2]

She married Larry Tajiri in April 1937.[1][3]

Beginning in 1965, Tajiri started attending the University of Colorado, Boulder and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in fine arts.[3]

Career[edit]

Beginning on March 29, 1942, Tajiri was in charge of the production of the Japanese American Citizen League (JACL) newspaper Pacific Citizen alongside her husband.[1][2][4] Tajiri and her husband left the Pacific Citizen in 1952.[1]

In 1952 Tajiri and her husband were honored by the JACL's Testimonial Banquet for their work at the Pacific Citizen.[5] In September 1971, Tajiri was again honored at the 7th annual Tajiri Awards Banquet as the special guest of honor.[6]

Death[edit]

Tajiri died on September 7, 2007.[1][2]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Guyo Tajiri | Densho Encyclopedia". encyclopedia.densho.org. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Varner, Natasha (March 23, 2018). "Wordsmith and Renaissance Woman Guyo Tajiri – Densho: Japanese American Incarceration and Japanese Internment". Densho: Japanese American Incarceration and Japanese Internment. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Newspaper clipping | Densho Digital Repository". ddr.densho.org. May 11, 1967. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  4. ^ Aug 2022, Jonathan van Harmelen / 10. "Teiko Ishida – A Woman of Conviction in the JACL — Part 1". Discover Nikkei. Retrieved February 22, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Watson, Annie Clo (September 1952). "Thank you letter to Guyo and Larry Tajiri from Annie Clo Watson | Densho Digital Repository". ddr.densho.org. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  6. ^ "Honorees gathered after seventh annual Tajiri Awards Banquet Mrs..." Getty Images. Retrieved February 22, 2023.