This indiividual's biography is probably one of those I am most unsure about. His history alone is clouded and then you get into the family lineage and the trips back to Japan and the court documents, and much much more. So I will tell the commonly known before adding bits of disection to it.

Mr. James Masayoshi Mitose was born in Hawaii in 1916. In 1920, Mr. Mitose was sent to Japan. At the age of 5, he was schooled in his family’s art, Kosho Kenpo. It was this way people proclaim Mr. Mitose became the 21st Great Grand Master of Kosho Kenpo (presently called Kosho Shorei-Ryu Kenpo).

Mr. Mitose returned to Hawaii, in 1937, and brought with him 800 years of Kenpo heritage. He called his art Kenpo Jiujitsu as this was the common title for martial arts on the Hawaiian islands. Mr. Henry Okasaki was teaching and Wally Jay later developed Small Circle Jiujitsu. Mr. Mitose's first black belts, in order, were; Thomas Young, Jiro Nakamura, Arthur Keawe, and Paul Yamaguchi.

Despite popular belief, William Kwai Sun Chow was promoted to Black Belt by Thomas Young, not by James Mitose; although Mr. Chow was a student of Mr. Mitose's classes.

Mr. Mitose also published a text, In Search of Kenpo, which is listed as out of print, but can be found on various sites as scanned images.

In 1974, Mr. Mitose was tried and convicted of extortion and murder. He was sentenced to Folsom prison.

James Masayoshi Mitose died in prison on March 27, 1981.

Again, as stated, there are no certainties with the older generations of Hawaiian martial artists. Even though we try to claim a teacher - student relationship between Mr. Mitose and Mr. Chow, when Mr. Mitose visited Mr. Parker, the material shown looked nothing like what Mr. Chow had originally taught.

There are also uncertainties regarding Mr. Mitose's homelife, his return trip to Japan, his succession as 21st Grandmaster even though he returned from Japan at the age of 21. Who knows what will turn up as more genealogical attention is diverted from European roots to roots from Asia. Maybe there will be passenger and immigration lists published, or information on social security or whatnot. With technology the way it is, anything may be found in the future. But I encourage you to do your own research.