Nao Takasugi
Nao Takasugi | |
|---|---|
 Gravestone at Ivy Lawn Cemetery, Ventura, California | |
| Member of the California State Assembly from the 37th district | |
| In office December 7, 1992 – November 30, 1998 | |
| Preceded by | Cathie Wright |
| Succeeded by | Tony Strickland |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 5, 1922 Wharton School of Business |
| Occupation | Politician |
Nao Takasugi (April 5, 1922 – November 19, 2009) was an American politician from
Early life
Born and raised in
After graduating from the Ivy League school, he applied to multiple accounting firms in Philadelphia; he was turned down at each firm, later explaining, "They'd say, 'With that Asian face, we can't put you in the field."[4] He instead returned to Oxnard to work in his family's Asahi Market.[5] The Takasugi family had opened the store in 1907 and had left it in the custody of employee Ignacio Carmona when they were forced to enter camp. Upon the Takasugis' return from Gila River, Carmona returned control of the store to the Takasugis.[3]
In 1952, Takasugi married his wife, Judy, with whom he had five children, Scott, Russell, Ron, Tricia and Lea.[3]
Public service
After the City of Oxnard turned down his efforts to get a new sign for his family's market, Takasugi felt the city needed someone with a head for business to cut through the bureaucracy and decided to run for the
Takasugi won election to the
In the year 2000 Takasugi ran for a seat on the board of the
Later life
In his final year in the Assembly at the age of 76, Takasugi suffered a
The Takasugi family was featured in the book "The Greatest Generation" by Tom Brokaw. During his interview with Brokaw, Nao Takasugi said "I find that I am compelled to remember the best – not the worst – of that time. To focus not on the grave deprivation of rights which beset us all, but rather on the countless shining moments of virtue that emerged from the shadows of that dark hour".[2]
At the age of 87, Takasugi died of complications from a stroke on November 19, 2009, at 8:20 P.M. at St. John's Regional Medical Center in Oxnard. He was survived by his wife of 57 years, Judy.
Electoral history
| Year | Office | Winner | Votes | Pct | Second Place | Votes | Pct | Third Place | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | California State Assembly District 37 Republican Nomination |
Nao Takasugi | 11,590 | 31.0% | Alan Gugenheim | 8,570 | 22.9% | Madge Schaefer | 7,034 | 18.8% |
| 1992 | California State Assembly District 37 |
Nao Takasugi | 66,364 | 50.8% | Roz McGrath | 56,692 | 43.4% | David Harner | 7,504 | 5.7% |
| 1994 | California State Assembly District 37 Republican Nomination |
Nao Takasugi | 25,381 | 100.0% | ||||||
| 1994 | California State Assembly District 37 |
Nao Takasugi | 66,035 | 64.5% | Dorothy Maron | 31,738 | 31.0% | David Harner | 4,660 | 4.5% |
| 1996 | California State Assembly District 37 Republican Nomination |
Nao Takasugi | 27,941 | 76.9% | Matt Noah | 8,377 | 23.1% | |||
| 1996 | California State Assembly District 37 |
Nao Takasugi | 73,167 | 59.7% | Jess Herrera | 49,341 | 40.3% |
References
- ^ a b c Niiya, Brian. "Nao Takasugi". Densho Encyclopedia. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
- ^ a b "Nao Takasugi, 87; Former Internee was a Popular Oxnard Mayor, Assemblyman," (November 24, 2009) Rafu Shimpo. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e "Nao Taksugi, former Oxnard mayor, remembered for his dignity". Ventura County Star. November 21, 2009. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ Gladstone, Mark. "A Long Journey from Internment Camp to Assembly: Legislature: Nao Takasugi plays it down, but his arrival in Sacramento is a milestone for Asian-Americans," (December 8, 2002) Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
- ^ Lehr, Tracy (2020-03-29). "Asahi Market remains open for business in Oxnard". KEYT | KCOY. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
- ^ "PASSINGS: Nao Takasugi". Obituary. Los Angeles Times. November 22, 2009. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ "Complete Primary Results," by A.G. Block, California Journal, July 1992, p.357.
