James Masao Mitsui
James Masao Mitsui, born on February 4, 1940, in Snohomish, Washington, is a notable poet and educator recognized for his contributions to Asian American literature. His early life was marked by his family's internment at the Tule Lake Relocation Camp during World War II, an experience that profoundly influenced his writing. Mitsui earned a B.A. in education from Eastern Washington University and later pursued additional degrees at the University of Washington, culminating in a long teaching career in the Renton School District, where he dedicated thirty-four years to high school students.
Mitsui began writing poetry while teaching creative writing and published several poetry collections, including "Journal of the Sun" (1974) and "Crossing the Phantom River" (1978). His work often reflects the immigrant experience, drawing from his Japanese heritage and family history. Critics highlight the lyrical and political nature of his poetry, which is characterized by vivid imagery. Mitsui's literary accolades include the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Award and a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship. His contributions have made him an important figure in documenting the Japanese American experience in the Pacific Northwest, solidifying his place in the broader tradition of Asian American literature.
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James Masao Mitsui
- Born: February 4, 1940
- Birthplace: Skykomish, Washington
- Died: 1996
Biography
James Masao Mitsui was born on February 4, 1940, to Minoru and Shime Mitsui in Snohomish, Washington. His father was a railroad worker on the Great Northern Railroad and his mother was a homemaker. Part of his childhood was spent at the Tule Lake Relocation Camp during World War II where Japanese Americans were interned. He attended high school in Odessa, Washington, before enrolling at Eastern Washington University, where he earned a B.A. in education in 1963. He also earned a B.A. in 1973 and an M.A. in 1975 from the University of Washington. Mitsui began teaching English for the Renton School District in 1966. On August 7, 1986, he married Lilly Kramer. The couple had six children. Mitsui retired in 1999 after thirty-four years of high- school teaching. He moved from Washington to Idaho where he lived on a lake.
Mitsui began writing poetry at the same time he was teaching creative writing in high school. He studied with a variety of poets including Nelson Bentley, Richard Hugo, and William Stafford, among others. He reported that his work was influenced by that of William Carlos Williams and he named James Wright and Pablo Neruda as his favorite poets. In addition, Mitsui’s work was influenced by art, ranging from Asian art to artists such as Andrew Wyeth and Edward Hopper.
Mitsui published his first book of poetry, Journal of the Sun, in 1974. He followed this with a second volume, Crossing the Phantom River in 1978, After the Long Train in 1986, and From a Three-Cornered World: New and Selected Poems in 1997. He drew on his family history for material in his poems, examining closely the immigrant experience. His forced internment with his family at Tule Lake is perhaps the most profound and important influence on his work. In addition, he wrote of his family members and everyday life in the immigrant community. Critics note that Mitsui’s poetry is both lyrical and political, charged with vivid imagery.
In 1974, Mitsui won the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Award for Journal of the Sun. He also received a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship in 1976. In 1998, Nicholas O’Connell included him among the twenty-two writers interviewed for his book At the Field’s End, a study of Pacific Northwest literature. Other writers interviewed included Barry Lopez, Raymond Carver, Denise Levertov, and Ursula K. Le Guin.
James Mitsui was an important poet, particularly in his recording of the Japanese American experience in the Pacific Northwest. His work became a part of the growing tradition of Asian American literature.