Thanks to my fourth cousin Meiko Izumi, the Landscapes of Injustice database, kosekis, and census data, I have more information about the connection between the Kishi and Izumi families. It starts with Kiku Kishi (born 1840), the younger sister of Shojiro, my great great grandfather. She married Uuemon Izumi and they had 4 sons. The youngest three were Naojiro, Ichimatsu, and Otomatsu. Unfortunately, Uuemon died just before Otomatsu was born. Kiku then passed away when Otomatsu was still a child. Shojiro then adopted Otomatsu and maybe Ichimatsu.

Shojiro’s son Teizo and Otomatsu came to Canada in 1900. Naojiro arrived either in 1900 as recorded on the 1921 census or in 1902 as written in the 1931 census. It seems that Ichimatsu never came to Canada but his son Sumikazu arrived in 1920. All their wives eventually came to Canada and most of their children were born in Canada. All were interned during WWII in Christina Lake, Slocan, New Denver and Greenwood. After the war, most moved to Ontario or stayed in BC. A few went back to Japan but most returned to Canada.

Now, most of their descendants still live in BC and Ontario with a few in Quebec and Alberta.