Henry Hajimu Fujii

Henry Hajimu Fujii
Born(1886-08-17)August 17, 1886
Takashiro, Tottori Prefecture, Japan
DiedNovember 2, 1976(1976-11-02) (aged 90)
Nampa, Idaho, United States
Occupation(s)Farmer, lapidary, spokesman
SpouseFumiko (Mayeda) Fujii (1891-1984)
Children6

Henry Hajimu Fujii (Japanese: 藤井 肇,[1] August 17, 1886 – November 2, 1976) was a pioneer and Japanese American community leader in the state of Idaho. His primary vocation was in agriculture. In the 1930s, Fujii was recognized as a pioneer in large-scale onion farming, advancing the acreage scale of which a farmer could raise crops.[2] In 1936, he established the Japanese Onion Growers Association and served as the organization's president for over 30 years.

As a Japanese immigrant living away from the West Coast of the United States, Fujii was not part of the Japanese American internment, maintaining a residence in Nampa, Idaho, throughout World War II.[3] Although he, like most other Japanese Americans, was the subject of significant racial persecution in the mid-1940s, Fujii maintained strong community relationships and leadership.[4] His community presence served as a significant contributor to the well-being and rights preservation for Asians in the northwestern United States. The Emperor of Japan awarded Fujii the 6th Order of the Rising Sun, Silver Rays, which represents the sixth highest of eight classes associated with this award. This decoration was presented as a way of acknowledging his efforts in furthering the relationships between Japan and the United States.[5]

In his retirement, Fujii turned to rockhounding and amassed one of the most extensive gem and mineral collections in the northwestern United States.[6] In 1974, Fujii donated a portion of his collection to the State of Idaho, with Governor Cecil D. Andrus personally accepting the donation.[7] The remainder of Fujii's gem and mineral specimens were donated to the Idaho Museum of Mining and Geology in 1994, and is on permanent display as "The Fujii Collection" in Boise, ID.

  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ Hayashi, Robert T. (2007). Haunted By Waters, pp. 59, 62-65, 73, 126-130.
  3. ^ Henshall, Mary S. (1973). "Henry Fujii Interview", JACL Convention, Boise, Idaho; Idaho Historical Museum File 0H#0037, November 24, 1973
  4. ^ Henshall, Mary. (1975). "Pioneer Portraits: Henry and Fumiko Fujii," Idaho Yesteryears (Spring 1975). pp. 20-27.
  5. ^ "Community News," Idaho Free Press & Caldwell News-Tribune. July 19, 1971, p. 8.
  6. ^ Penson, Betty. "Japanese Amasses Famed Rock Exhibit," Idaho Statesman. July 27, 1986.
  7. ^ Idaho, Division of Tourism and Industrial Development. (1977). "People and Culture," Idaho Almanac. p. 324.