Guyo Tajiri

Japanese American journalist (1915–2007)

Guyo Tajiri

Born| 1915
Died| 2007 (aged 91–92)
Alma mater|

* University of Missouri
* San Jose State University
* University of California, Berkeley
* University of Colorado Boulder

Occupation| Journalist, editor
Employer|

* Pacific Citizen

Guyo Tajiri (October 17, 1915 – September 7, 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, a major Japanese American publication, as an editor.[1]

## Early life and education

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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 Citizens 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

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

## References

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1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Guyo Tajiri". Densho Encyclopedia. July 11, 2014. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
2. ^ a b c d e f Coon, Caitlin Oiye (March 23, 2018). "Wordsmith and Renaissance Woman Guyo Tajiri". Densho: Japanese American Incarceration and Japanese Internment. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
3. ^ a b "Mrs Tajiri Phi Beta Kappa". Densho Digital Repository. May 11, 1967. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
4. ^ van Harmelen, Jonathan (August 10, 2022). "Teiko Ishida: A Woman of Conviction in the JACL, Part 1". Discover Nikkei. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
5. ^ Watson, Annie Clo (September 1952). "Thank you letter to Guyo and Larry Tajiri from Annie Clo Watson". Densho Digital Repository. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
6. ^ "Honorees gathered after seventh annual Tajiri Awards Banquet Mrs..." Getty Images. August 22, 2017. Retrieved February 22, 2023.

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* Germany
* United States
* France
* BnF data
* Israel