Masaji Marumoto

Masaji Marumoto ( January 27, 1906 – February 10, 1995) was the first Japanese American Justice of the Supreme Court of Hawaii. He served from 1956 to 1973. He was the first Japanese American to graduate from Harvard Law School, and the first Japanese American to serve as president of the Hawaii Bar Association. Early life and education Marumoto was born on January 27, 1906, in Honolulu to immigrants from Hiroshima, Japan. He grew up in Kona, and in seventh grade moved back to Honolulu, where he attended McKinley High School and graduated at the top of his class in 1924. After graduating from high school he earned a bachelor's degree in economics with a minor in philosophy from the University of Chicago. At first Marumoto wanted to major in philosophy, but his father convinced him to major in something more "practical". In 1927 he became the first Asian to enter Harvard Law School. He graduated in 1930. Career After graduating from law school Marumoto returned to Hawaii and took the Hawaii Bar Exam. He worked at a few law offices in Honolulu before opening his own practice in 1932. In 1933 he married Shizuko Ozu.