SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO

Shigeru “Shig” Kinoshita’s roots can be traced back to Japan, but his family’s legacy was planted in San Juan Capistrano more than 40 years ago. Now, the city plans to keep the family name and legacy alive. The Capistrano Unified School District has voted to name its new school, which is under construction and scheduled to open next year, Kinoshita Elementary.

Kinoshita said it was his parents’ hard work that shaped his future. After his family was released from a Wyoming internment camp during World War II, they moved to San Juan Capistrano and opened Kinoshita Farms on 56 acres. Kinoshita sold the land to the city in 1990 so a community center and other projects could be built on the property. He remained active in the community by starting a seniors action program, which assists the city’s police force, and the Kinoshita scholarship fund awards $500 annually to a graduating student from Serra High School.