Tsuguo Arai

Tsuguo Arai passed away on Nov. 11, 2022, surrounded by family. Born in Kobe, Japan, Tsuguo was raised by his four older sisters after his mother's death. He was 9 years old when over half of Kobe was destroyed during World War II bombings. Tsuguo attended Kwansei Gakuin University in Nishinomiya, Japan. After graduating he earned a scholarship to study further at the University of Toronto. He scraped together enough money for a one-way ticket to Canada. In Toronto he met and married his wife, Grace Shimizu. In 1967, Tsuguo was offered a teaching position at Alaska Methodist University, now Alaska Pacific University, he and Grace packed up and moved to Anchorage, Alaska. Tsuguo taught history at AMU. In summers he enjoyed organizing study tours for students and faculty to visit Japan. After AMU, Tsuguo worked as an administrator for the Anchorage School District's Bilingual Program. He was a leading voice for bilingual education. He also served as principal of Anchorage's Japanese school. Even after suffering a major stroke in 2002, Tsuguo partnered with his wife Grace to translate diaries written by Grace's father. The diaries, published in 2006, provide insights into the 1920s first-generation Japanese immigrant experience. Tsuguo enjoyed traveling, gardening, reading and taking his family out to eat - especially at his favorite restaurant in Anchorage, Arigato. His granddaughters always remember him reading in his recliner with a cup of tea in one hand and a cat purring loudly on his lap. Tsuguo is survived by his daughters, Karen Arai and Megumi Harker; son-in-law, Brad Harker; and granddaughters, Riena and Bethany Harker. Family would like to express profuse gratitude to Marietta House and Providence Hospice.