Keizo Norimoto

July 07,1932 - February 27,2021

Keizo Norimoto, also known under the pen name Ippei Nomoto, passed peacefully surrounded by family at 8 pm on Saturday February 27th. He was a husband, father, minister, writer, artist, educator, and a lifelong student. Keizo was born in Maesawa, Iwate Prefecture Japan on July 7th 1932. He was the child of Sokushin and Yuriko Norimoto of the Gannyuji Buddhist Temple. After studying at Ryukoku University in Kyoto, he traveled to the United States as part of a delegation of Japanese Buddhist ministers celebrating the 70th Anniversary of Buddhism in the United States. This trip was a pivotal moment in his life as he was exposed to the freedoms and opportunities this country provided. He emigrated soon thereafter to become a minister with the Buddhist Churches of America. He served for over 33 years in this capacity, first at the Los Angeles Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple and then at the Fresno Betsuin Buddhist Temple. During 17 of those years, he served as Rinban (head priest) of the Central Valley Region.

Keizo was also a prolific writer and author of many books during his life. Writing in Japanese under his pen name Nomoto Ippei, he was particularly interested in reflecting upon the Japanese experience in America as told through autobiographical vignettes and profiles of prominent Japanese Americans. During his life, he published 7 books and was a regular contributor to Japanese publications including Bukkyo Times, Rafu Shimpo newspaper, TV Fan, and Hokubei Mainichi newspaper.

At the age of 65 Keizo retired from the Buddhist Churches of America and became CEO of the Hokubei Mainichi, at the time the second longest running Japanese American newspaper headquartered in San Francisco.

In 2010 Keizo received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays medal of honor from the Japanese government for his work in the promotion of Japanese language education in the United States and the welfare of Japanese nationals in the US.

His warmth, wit, intellect and ability to express the most profound thoughts in the simplest of terms in his writing will be missed by all.

He is survived by his wife Toshiko; children Kana and her husband Takeshi Koyama and Tamon and his wife Yukiko Hatanaka.; 4 grandchildren: Nanae, Emi, Keishin and Maya.

A private family funeral service was held. A memorial service is planned for a future time when we can safely gather and celebrate his life.