Idahoans fondly remember Fred Ochi as the artist who preserved the history of old red barns, landscapes, sheep wagons, and windmills in his iconic paintings. Jon Ochi, the son of Fred and Yoshiko Shikasjo-Ochi, has joined us today to tell the story of his Japanese American family. Moving from California, to Utah, to Idaho, trying to avoid being swept up by the wave of discrimination that led to the creation of Japanese-American internment camps during World War II, Fred found his home and wife in Southeast Idaho. Together, the Ochi family became instrumental in advocating to end discriminatory laws and policies impacting Japanese Americans in Idaho.
Jon Ochi was born in Idaho Falls. He attended schools in Idaho Falls before leaving for Yale College where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Music Theory and played piano under John Kirkpatrick. He worked with the Urban Corps in New York City for two summers, before joining the Peace Corps for two years.
Upon his return to Idaho Falls, Jon was involved in agriculture for several years before joining his father in the graphics art business and serving as a caregiver to his parents in their later years.
Jon ran as a candidate for the House of Representatives in 1991 and 1993. He helped to form the Friends of Falls River in 1989, served 10 years on the Board of Idaho Rivers United, and is a member of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL).
His journeys have taken him quite literally to the top of the world. He spent time in Nepal with the Peace Corps and has since returned three times to go trekking. He canoed the Yellowknife to the Arctic Ocean, then to Hudson Bay, covering 1000 miles in 60 days. His other notable adventures have taken him to Peru, India, Cuzco, and China.
