Kotaro Robert Hoshizaki
June 7, 1923 – July 11, 2020
Kotaro Robert Hoshizaki, 97, passed away on July 11, 2020 at Hollenbeck Palms in Los Angeles. Born to Sadagoro and Hana Hoshizaki in Little Tokyo behind the Fugetsu Do building on First Street, Ko was a lifelong resident of Los Angeles, with the exception of his years in the Japanese American incarceration camp in Manzanar during World War II.
Ko acted as president of the family business Hoshizaki Investment Company for over 60 years and directing officer at Mutual Trading Company for over 50 years. Ko was married to Irene Fusako Inouye for 68 years before his wife’s passing on December 20, 2017. Throughout his life, Ko was an avid photographer. He loved to stay up to date with the news and hold conversation about politics, history, and technology. He enjoyed utilizing Uber services and was especially interested in self-driving cars. He enjoyed karaoke, dancing, painting and ceramics classes at Hollenbeck Palms, where he took residence for over two years.
He is survived by his six children and their spouses Glen (Deborah), Carole, Russell (Elizabeth), Dale (Robert), Lori (David), and Julie (Martine), and eight grandchildren Cory, Elena, Kyle (Katie), Alison, Kathryn, Savino, Owen, and Nicolo. Due to conditions posed by the pandemic, the family is not accepting visitors or gifts; in place of koden, please spend time doing something that makes you happy, such as being in nature, in honor of his memory. You may share any memories or kind words through krhoshizaki@ yahoo.com.