Wyoming Heart Mountain Foundation Co-Founder Honored with Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation

Takashi Hoshizaki, a founding member of the Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation, was awarded the Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation during a ceremony at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles, Cody Enterprise reports.

The recognition came just two days after Hoshizaki celebrated his 99th birthday, marking a significant milestone for one of the few remaining draft resisters from the Japanese American internment camps during World War II.

The commendation was presented on October 5 by Kenko Sone, the Japanese consul general in Los Angeles, who praised Hoshizaki for his lifelong contributions to US-Japanese relations and his leadership in establishing the Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation. The foundation works to preserve the history of the 14,000 Japanese Americans who were incarcerated at Heart Mountain from 1942 to 1945.

Hoshizaki’s remarkable life has spanned multiple fields. In addition to his contributions to the foundation, he is an accomplished botanist whose research into circadian rhythms took him to Antarctica and led to a career at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Shirley Ann Higuchi, chair of the Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation, highlighted Hoshizaki’s influence in shaping the foundation’s values.

“He’s taught me a lot about the need for civility, patience, and integrity. These attributes are now part of our core values at Heart Mountain,” Higuchi said.

Hoshizaki’s recognition serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving history and fostering international understanding. As Hoshizaki’s story intertwines with both the scientific community and the painful history of Japanese American internment, his life stands as a testament to resilience and dedication, much like the words of Maya Angelou:

“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”

The Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation, a Smithsonian Affiliate, continues to tell the stories of those incarcerated during World War II through its museum and interpretive center located between Cody and Powell.