In Memory of Shoji Mitsuishi

Shoji Mitsuishi 

Spouse: Eriko Mitsuishi
Children: Portion (Kiyoshi)
Birthdate: April 12, 1949
Blessing: February 8 , 1975
Ascension: January 27, 2024
Seonghwa Ceremony: February 3, 2024

Shoji Mitsuishi was born on April 12, 1949 to Takiko and Hitoshi Mitsuisui in Nagano, Japan. He was the oldest of five siblings, and his younger brother was adopted into his aunt’s family. His family was an agricultural one, farming rice in the countryside of Japan. Born into a hardworking family, Shoji started working as a milk boy and delivering newspapers when he was only 10. As a child, he enjoyed fishing and swimming, hobbies he continued to enjoy throughout his entire life.

In March 1969, while preparing for his university entrance exam in Tokyo, he was witnessed to by Ryoko Kiriyama and decided to join the Unification Church. In April 1969, he entered Takasaki Ichiritsu University, earning a degree in Economics. He was also an active CARP member on campus, witnessing and preaching about the importance of Victory Over Communism.

In January 1975, he was matched to his wife, Eriko Mitsuishi. They later went on to receive the 1800 couple Holy Marriage Blessing on February 8th, 1975 in Seoul, South Korea. He continued his witnessing and preaching in the streets of Japan. Shortly after the Blessing, he was chosen by True Father to become a foreign missionary in the country of Venezuela. After fundraising to support his mission, Shoji left for Venezuela in May of that year to start his mission of witnessing and spreading Unification Theology. For four years, Shoji pioneered in Venezuela, learning Spanish and witnessing. Near the end of 1979 his wife Eriko joined him in Venezuela. Shoji and Eriko sold Ginseng together to make ends meet. Later, they founded a natural food store and continued to grow their own small church.

In 1987, while in a spiritual church retreat in Columbia, they received a beautiful opportunity from Carl and Tania Redmond, who volunteered to offer them a child to adopt and raise as their own. Carl and Tania Redmond flew to Venezuela a year later and Hironori Portion Mitsuishi was born on August 6th, 1988 and was raised as part of the Mitsuishi family from birth.

The new family of three lived in Venezuela until 1993, when Shoji was given a new mission of witnessing in Russia. They moved and lived in Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod, witnessing and learning Russian. They have many spiritual children who are still part of the church to this day.

After 21 years of missionary work, Shoji received an award of honors for his dedication to the mission by True Father. In 1996, he was given his next mission to pioneer in the country of Samoa as the National Messiah. First, the family moved to Japan—Shoji spent three months in Samoa, while Eriko stayed in Japan with Portion. While back in Japan, Shoji worked part-time to financially support his mission in Samoa. Three years later Shoji attended a workshop in Jardim, Brazil. There, Shoji received his next mission: to help Pioneer and establish a new project in Leda, Paraguay. In 2000, Eriko and Portion moved to Miami, FL which gave Portion an opportunity to learn English. During this period of time, Shoji traveled regularly between Miami and Paraguay as he continued his missionary work in Leda for the next ten years.

In 2010, Shoji and Eriko moved back to Miami to be with Portion. He started to work for True World Foods, and all three of them lived together. Portion was blessed to his wife, Kiyoshi, and a couple of years later, Shoji became a Grandpa, endearingly being called “Jiji” by his grandchildren, Mika and Caleb. Even after retirement, Shoji continued to work part-time and really enjoyed spending time with his family. One of his fondest memories is traveling to Japan as a family of three generations in May 2023. He was so happy being all together and was eager to show his grandkids a glimpse of his Japanese roots.

Shoji was an avid swimmer, swimming almost daily. He loved to be present with his grandkids, visiting often and spending quality time with them. His grandkids would always greet “Jiji” excitedly as he walked into the house. He had a very big heart for people and was always interested in getting to know them more deeply.

Shoji transitioned to the spiritual world in the early morning of January 27, 2024 at home in the arms of his wife, Eriko. He is survived by Eriko'; his son, Portion; his daughter-in-law, Kiyoshi; and his grandchildren, Mika and Caleb Mitsuishi. Shoji dedicated his life to the Unification Church, being assigned the difficult task of pioneering many countries through his own efforts. He was a great Jiji, and he will be dearly missed by his family, especially his grandkids.

Seonghwa Ceremony

Date: Saturday, February 3, 2024 at 3:00 PM EDT (Doors open 1:00 PM)
Location: Family Church of South Florida (11810 NW 19th St. Plantation, FL 33323)

Livestream will be available on Saturday at: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85667219250?pwd=K5c4hNZb8NcmhN29n25Wk4yzjcnHb5.1

If you would like to support the Mitsuishi family both financially or other ways during this time, you can visit this webpage: https://mealtrain.com/2z51l7

Flowers and cards can be sent to the Mitsuishi residence:
Mrs. Eriko Mitsushi
12629 NW 15th St
Sunrise, FL 33323