Richard Masaji (Mas) Kawanishi , 93, passed away at his residence in Leisure World, Seal Beach, California on August 25, 2020.

Richard was born on May 16, 1927, in Torrance, California.  During WWII he and his mother, Mura, were initially relocated from Los Angeles to the Japanese-American internment camp in Rohwer, AR.  Subsequently, when the Rohwer camp was closed, they were moved to the camp in Jerome, AR, where he finished his senior year of high school.  After discharge from the camp, they settled in St. Louis, Missouri.  He served in the United States Army after the war and later graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a Bachelor of Science degree.  He became a Certified Public Accountant and was very successful as a sole proprietor of his accounting firm, becoming one of the first professional corporations in the state of Missouri.  After retirement, he and his wife moved to Seal Beach, California.  His interests included Japanese history, politics and keeping up with business news.

He is predeceased by his wife of 67 years, Kimie Kawanishi who passed in 2017.  He is survived by his older sister Jean Saeko Terayama of Kaneohe, Hawaii; his 2 sons and their spouses, David T. and Patricia Kawanishi of San Juan Capistrano, CA and Stanley K. and Carol Kawanishi, of Whittier, CA; his daughter and her spouse Polly M. and Andrew V. Leech of Germantown, MD; 4 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.