[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 158 (Thursday, November 15, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2083-E2084]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO TOKO FUJII

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT T. MATSUI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 15, 2001

  Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in tribute to Toko Fujii, one of 
Sacramento's most notable citizen leaders. Toko was regarded as one of 
the most well respected and positive figures in the Sacramento Japanese 
American community. I ask all of my colleagues to join with me in 
saluting one of Sacramento's most outstanding citizens.
  Toko was born in Stockton, California on May 11, 1920. The eldest 
child of Kinji and Midori Fujii. As a youngster in Oakland, where his 
parents owned a billiard hall, Toko demonstrated his trademark 
independence at very early age. He would often stop by a neighborhood 
restaurant to purchase a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast before walking 
to school each morning. In 1927, Toko and his parents, along with 
younger sister, Chizue, moved to Sacramento, where he attended Lincoln 
School for his elementary and junior high years before attending 
Sacramento High School.
  While in high school, Toko was an active member of the Japanese 
Student Club, Math Honor Club, and the prestigious California 
Scholarship Federation. In his spare time, Toko was also involved in 
the Buddhist Church Youth Organization. It was in a high school French 
class that he first met Sayoko Akume, who eventually became his wife 
and had been for the last 58 years.
  When World War II broke out, Toko and Sayoko were sent to the Tule 
Lake Internment camp. During the internment, he kept busy by writing a 
column for the camp newspaper. Toko and Sayoko eventually left camp in 
the summer of 1943 and the young couple moved to Salt Lake City, where 
they were married on July 3, 1943. While majoring in Business 
Administration at the University of Utah, Toko displayed his innate 
talent for bringing people together when he organized a basketball team 
of Japanese Americans from the university.
  Upon graduation, Toko and Sayoko moved to Denver before returning to 
Sacramento. During these years, Toko further enhanced his ability to 
bring people together. Toko organized his first fundraiser to raise 
money for uniforms and traveling costs for the Japanese American All 
Star Basketball Team. Toko also played an instrumental role in the 
establishment of the Buddhist Church Basketball League and the Northern 
California Nisei Athletic Union. Before the integration of Little 
League Baseball, he played a major role in organizing the Northern 
California Church League, a Nisei baseball league.
  In his professional life, Toko first ran the Sun Hotel and shortly 
thereafter he became a real estate and insurance broker before he was 
recruited to manage the El Rancho Bowl in 1960. In 1964, Toko and his 
business partner, Kay Hamatani, started Victory Trophies, which he 
successfully operated until 1996. In addition to being a small business 
owner, Toko also contributed 27 years of outstanding service to the 
former Bank of Tokyo.
  In his personal life, Toko remained very active with various 
community causes. He served as the acting office manager for the 
Japanese American Citizen's League since the early 1990's. In early 
1991, he spearheaded the project to exhibit the story of Japanese 
American's in the Greater Sacramento Valley. After the unexpected death 
of the project's organizer, Toko assumed full responsibility of the 
project and fulfilled the mission to introduce their story at the 
Sacramento History Museum for six months in 1992.
  Toko was also affectionately known as ``The Man'' in the local 
community when it comes to fund raising for special causes. Toko played 
a key role in securing $200,000 for the Sacramento Japanese American 
Citizens League's Endowment Fund in 1990. When the National Japanese 
American Memorial Foundation was organized in 1999, Toko stepped up to 
the plate and organized a local fund raising campaign that raised 
$120,000. He never forgot the importance of giving back to his 
community. Toko's tireless commitment to serving his community was 
truly an inspiration and example to his fellow citizens.

[[Page E2084]]

  Mr. Speaker, as Mr. Toko Fujii's friends and family gather to 
celebrate and honor his legacy and many contributions, I am honored to 
pay tribute to one of Sacramento's most well respected citizens. His 
successes are unparalleled, and it is great honor for me to have the 
opportunity to pay tribute to his accomplishments. I ask all my 
colleagues to join with me in celebrating the deeds of an extraordinary 
leader.

                          ____________________