Biography
Samuro Genzaburo Ishikawa was born on July 7, 1866, in Tatebayashi, Gunma Prefecture, Japan.
His father and grandfather were respected members of the Japanese military, but his father died in service when Ishikawa was very young. Ishikawa lived in the castle of the Prince whom his grandfather and father had served until the age of 10 when he was sent to an excellent school which military families attended.
However, after his grandfather's death, his mother relocated their family to Tokyo where she grew up.
While attending a higher evangelistic educational institution, he slowly converted to Christianity and became committed to going to the United States to further his education.
After spending time at Westminster Preparatory School, Ishikawa entered the Pacific Theological Seminary. He studied there for six months as he became convinced that his mission was to serve young men.
Ishikawa made his way east and spent one month at Mount Hermon School where he reviewed his studies before entering the International YMCA Training School, now Springfield College, in the fall of 1890.
While in Springfield, Ishikawa became a favorite of the class, described by classmates as a man of high character. He traveled around New England speaking to several audiences presenting the needs of foreign missions during his two years at the Training School and was a participant in the first game of basketball on Dec. 21, 1891.
After graduating, Ishikawa returned to the west coast where he became General Secretary of the Japanese branch of the YMCA in San Francisco, California.
After five years working for the Association, Ishikawa decided to further his education.
He enrolled in the University of Wisconsin and submitted his Master's and Doctoral degree theses over the next two years. He then spent much of his professional career as a member of the firm of the Mitsui Company of Japan.
Ishikawa's claim to fame comes from his drawing of the first basketball game.
This drawing was published in the January 1892 edition of The Triangle, a semi-monthly journal produced originally by the staff of the Physical Department in the International YMCA Training School.
Since then, variations of this drawing have made numerous appearances in basketball magazines and pamphlets produced by Springfield College.