In her 91 years, Sumi has had many life experiences that shaped and strengthened her character, outlook, spiritual beliefs, and philosophy. She faced many challenges and came to realize her inner strength, as well as the value of love and support from key figures: family, friends, and the occasional helpful acquaintance.

Part of her biography is described in a book, The Train to Crystal City by Jan Jarboe Russell. But Sumi also wrote several short stories in order to chronicle the life experiences of her parents and to capture the drama that was her life during WW2: relocation, camp life, repatriation to Japan, and returning to the U.S. alone as a teenager.

Her parents were immigrants from Japan who came with little money and successfully managed to create a family and home in Little Tokyo, in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. She had two older sisters and tended to be a sickly child, coddled by her mother.  

Sumi’s life changed when her father was arrested by the FBI after Pearl Harbor was attacked and she, alone with her mother who did not speak English, had to pack only what they could carry to the relocation camps for Japanese and Japanese-Americans. Her older sisters had been visiting relatives in Japan when the war started, and had to remain there until it was over.

Those wartime years, as described in the book forged in Sumi a more positive, outgoing personality as a result of her mother’s encouragement to make the best of a bad situation. In Crystal City, Texas, Sumi found life-long friends, was reunited with her father, and had a short period of time to flourish as a young teen despite the harsh climate and limitations of living behind barbed wire.

She worked to keep this unique sense of community alive by helping to found the CCA, or Crystal City Association after the war and after she married and had children. Sumi initiated the newsletter, the Crystal City Chatter as a means of keeping members apprised of events and news. Later she added nutrition, health tips, and fun facts for added interest. She loved this newsletter that was kept in circulation by donations from the many CC members, and enjoyed the camaraderie of her friends when they worked on projects together, had lunches, picnics, reunion events, or trips to Las Vegas. They traveled on a pilgrimage to Crystal City, met with local officials, and paid their respects at the historical marker that they raised funds for.

Sumi was married to Kiyoo Shimatsu and they had 6 children together. He encouraged her to go back to school to get her degree in Chiropractics but passed away not too long after she graduated after 24 years of marriage. Sumi’s career as a doctor of chiropractics gave her great satisfaction and an independence she had never before envisioned for herself. Her private practice kept her busy for several years until retirement.

She had many interests, talents and skills. Her love of animals led to an odd collection of pets over her life: birds (including an aviary of finches, doves and quail, a mynah bird, a sparrow that fell out of its nest, parakeets, and a cockatoo), rabbits, cats, many dogs, skunk, squirrel, and in Crystal City, a jack rabbit and a crow. Her artistic talent led to a full scholarship offer from the California College of Arts and Crafts (which she declined) but she continued sketching and painting throughout her life. She loved her gardens which had fruit trees, redwoods, and bamboo as well as azaleas, camellias, gardenias, etc. Sumi practiced qi gong and traveled to China with her practice group to learn with a master. She also traveled to Japan with a Buddhist bishop, Yamashita sensei, and was treated like visiting royalty there. 

Sumi is survived by her 6 children, 9 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. She will be sorely missed for her love of life and family, generosity, intuitive guidance, healing skills, and her determination to make the best of all situations.