Kichimatsu Kishi
Kichimatsu Kishi | |
|---|---|
| Born | Japan |
| Died | 1956 |
| Occupation(s) | Agriculturalist, entrepreneur |
| Known for | Advancing rice cultivation in southern United States; founding an agricultural community; establishing an oil enterprise |
Kichimatsu Kishi (岸 吉松 Kishi Kichimatsu, ?–1956) was a Japanese immigrant who played a pivotal role in advancing rice cultivation in the southern United States. Together with fellow Japanese settlers, he revolutionized agriculture in Southeast Texas by founding an agricultural community and establishing an oil enterprise. Born to a banker in Japan and educated at Tokyo's Hitotsubashi University, his academic pursuits were interrupted in 1904 when he served in the Russo-Japanese War.[1]
After his deployment to Manchuria until Japan’s victory in 1905, Kishi contemplated remaining there but ultimately returned to Japan due to the prohibitive land prices and political uncertainty. Earlier, in 1902, Sadatsuchi Uchida, Japan’s consul to the United States, had observed that rice farming in the southern U.S. was underdeveloped yet held substantial profit opportunities.[2] Given Japan’s population density and limited arable land, many rice farmers lacked property ownership, which motivated Kishi to emigrate to the U.S. in 1906.
Travel to the United States
Kishi initially explored farmland options in California and the Carolinas before choosing a site near Terry in central Orange County, Texas. This location was strategically situated on the Texas and New Orleans Railroad and had access to bayous suitable for irrigation.[3] In 1907, he acquired about of land through borrowed capital and established what became known as the Kishi Colony; by 1908, his family had moved there and cultivated their inaugural rice crop.[4]
Following crop destruction caused by saltwater intrusion after dredging of the Sabine River,[4] Kishi expanded into growing cotton, corn, and cabbage. The colony attracted Japanese immigrants from states such as California, where alien land laws limited their ability to own property.[5] The labor force was ethnically diverse, including Mexicans, Cajuns, and African Americans. After California enacted the Alien Land Law of 1913 with stricter restrictions, a larger number of Japanese settlers relocated to Texas. While originally welcomed, anti-Japanese sentiment grew over time; nonetheless, Japanese Texans utilized political channels to counteract similar legislation passed by Texas authorities and retained their land holdings.[5]
Kishi’s oil business
The discovery of oil on Kishi’s property in 1919 attracted attention from Isoroku Yamamoto, who toured American oil facilities in 1921 as part of Japan’s naval expansion efforts. His interaction with Kishi contributed to establishing the Orange Petroleum Company. Initially, profits from Kishi's oil operations were sufficient to clear debts and finance additional land purchases. Yamamoto returned in 1924 and observed robust oil output.
By 1925, however, the wells were depleted, bringing an end to the oil venture. Subsequently, the Great Depression, along with crop diseases and adverse weather conditions, severely impacted the colony’s agricultural productivity. In 1931, foreclosure resulted in Kishi losing his land. His son Taro—employed by a Japanese shipping firm—assisted the family by acquiring a modest farm near Orange and leasing part of their former estate.
After the Attack on Pearl Harbor, Kichimatsu Kishi was detained for two months at Camp Kenedy near San Antonio, likely due to his previous association with Yamamoto. Prominent local businessmen intervened to secure his release without restrictions.
Family
Taro, the son of Kichimatsu, holds the distinction of being the first Asian student at Texas A&M University and was a key football player who helped secure a Southwest Conference title. He earned his degree in agriculture in 1926 and emerged as one of the pioneering Asian Pacific American athletes. Kichimatsu's lineage also includes his grandson, NASA engineer John Hirasaki, who was among the initial five individuals to analyze lunar samples on Earth during the 1969 Apollo missions, working alongside astronauts Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and William Carpentier.
Markers of recognition and controversy
The Texas Historical Commission installed a commemorative marker on FM 1135, located seven miles southeast of Vidor, Texas, to honor Kishi and the contributions of his settlement to the area. In central Orange County, a road once named "Jap Lane" was intended to acknowledge the Japanese influence on local farming. However, since the term Jap is regarded as a racial slur, civil rights organizations opposed this name. Consequently, in July 2005, Orange County renamed the road to Duncanwoods Lane, Japanese Lane, and Cajun Way. Later, in 2007, FM 1135 officially received the designation "Kishi Road," accompanied by a dedicated historical marker.
External links
- Kishi Web
- Historic photos of the Kishi Family from the Heritage House Museum in Orange