Honoring Ted T. Tsukiyama

摘要

The complex landscape:"The World of Bonsai Aloha" is dedicated to and honors Ted T. Tsukiyama of Honolulu, Hawaii.No one has done more to create Hawaii's "Aloha Bonsai World" than Ted Tsukiyama. He was an ROTC cadet at the University of Hawaii when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The unit became the Territorial Guard, were issued a rifle with six bullets and sent to guard the hills above Honolulu against enemy paratroopers. Soon after, he and other Japanese were unfairly and summarily discharged and branded enemy aliens.Ted was part of the legendary Varsity Victory Volunteers who did manual labor to support the war effort and this made possible the all-Japanese units that included the 442nd Infantry Combat Team that became the most decorated unit of its size as they suffered awesome casualties to prove their loyalty. Ted did more than his share in the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) in Burma where interpretation and interrogation combined with clandestine missions helped to turn the tide and shortened World War II.After discharge, college, and establishing his legal practice, he befriended the nation of his former enemies beginning with Kaichi Ito and Saburo Kato of Omiya, Japan. On his trips throughout Hawaii, Japan, and the United States, he contacted the leaders of the bonsai world. He effectively cofounded the non-profit Hawaii Bonsai Association and handled the administrative and diplomatic role of secretary-treasurer for the first ten years; then as president for many more years.