[1][3][4] He disbarked in Dunedin, New Zealand, after a disagreement with the ship's captain, urging Tsukigawa to abruptly leave behind some of his belongings and wages.

[10] At the start of World War II, Tsukigawa spent months under house arrest, as his Japanese descent deemed him an 'enemy alien'.

[12][13] The Te Puke Times reported:[14] Seldom has a wedding in Balclutha drawn so many onlookers as that of Lieutenant Adelaide Clarke and Sergeant- Major K. Tsukigawa, which was celebrated in the Oddfellows' Hall.

A Japanese by birth he began as a deck hand, and rose to the position of master by sheer ability, and holds the necessary certificates to enable him to take charge of a sea-going boat.

Noted as a respected member of the community in Balclutha, Tsukigawa was offered a role as seaman on the Clutha River Board steamer, Clyde.

Under the captaincy of John Bulter, he quickly learnt the trade and in May 1908 obtained a master's certification, becoming captain of a new steam ship, the Clutha, which operated from 1908 to 1939.

[2] Tsukigawa was widely recognised as an important and beloved member of the Balclutha community, cited as one of the most 'colourful characters' and 'most highly respected' in an article written by the Press in 1949 upon his death.

[18] In 2013, the South Otago Historical Society and the Clutha District Council commissioned interpretative panels describing Tsukigawa's life to be placed on the Balclutha Lawn Cemetery.