OBITUARY: Yumiko Oino Hojo

Yumiko Oino Hojo

March 1, 1921 – Feb. 26, 2023

HOJO, YUMIKO passed away peacefully on February 26, 2023 at the age of 101. Yumiko was born March 1, 1921 in Suisun, California. She attended local schools in Cordelia and Fairfield.

Yumiko’s high school music teacher encouraged her to apply to the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Her successful acceptance led to completing a rigorous curriculum that included four hours of practice daily while working as a house girl for an elderly woman. Yumiko graduated with degrees in composition and piano pedagogy.

Shortly after her graduation, on June 19, 1941 she and Rev. Ejitsu Hojo were married at the Stockton Buddhist Church where Rev. Hojo was assigned as minister. At the request of the Stockton Jr. YBA members, Yumiko established the Stockton Jr. Choir.

At the beginning of their relocation in 1942, Yumiko along with her mother and sister were initially sent to the Turlock Relocation Center, where she continued to teach gathas. They were then relocated to the Gila River internment camp in Arizona, where Yumiko taught high school music and began a choir. Their son, Tetsu, was born in camp in September 1944.

When they returned to Stockton in September 1945, Yumiko helped her husband establish many church and community programs. She also began the Jr. Choir, taught herself to play the organ, and gave private piano lessons. While in Stockton, she composed several gathas which are still used in services today.

In 1959, the family moved to the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin. She served as Choir Director and in 1964 established the Jr. Choir. The Sr. Choir performed for services, local and national conferences, and at other temples. She also organized choir tours to Southern California, the Pacific Northwest, Canada, and Hawaii. She also continued to play the organ, give organ and piano lessons, and compose gathas and compositions for the Betsuin until her retirement in 1985.

She loved taking vacations with her family, especially to Pismo Beach, Ca., travel abroad with friends and family, going to Giants games, preparing delicious food, going to San Francisco to see musicals with friends, growing vegetables in her back yard, listening to music on records, and just spending time with friends and family through the years.

Yumiko was preceded in death by her parents, Ginji and Mitsu Oino, her husband, Rinban Ejitsu Hojo, her sister, Mariko Oino Shibata (Jerry).

Yumiko is survived by her son, Tetsu Hojo (Gail), granddaughter Samantha Hojo (Barnard Palmer), great granddaughter Mieko Alinea Hojo Palmer, nephew David Shibata (Carol) and niece, Ellen Shibata-Reif (Paul) and their son, Matthew.

A memorial service will be held at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin, 640 N. 5th St., San Jose, Ca. 95112 at 11:30 am on Thursday, April 20, 2023. Attendees are asked to adhere to temple covid protocols. Masking is required.