Receiving redress checks and apology

In 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed into law the Civil Liberties Act, which, among other things, mandated an official apology from the government and monetary payments to Japanese Americans incarcerated during World War II. On October 9, 1990, more than two years after the passage of the bill, the first of the redress payments were made in a formal ceremony to elderly issei survivors in Washington, D.C. Similar ceremonies were held in cities across the country. While few of those who were incarcerated feel that the government's apology erases what was done, many believe that a formal admission of wrongdoing helped resolve feelings of shame and corrected misperceptions held by the larger society.

Redress and reparations (954)
Receiving redress checks and apology (139)

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139 items

doc Letter from Paul W. Suddes, Administrator for Redress to redress recipient, October 20, 1993 (ddr-csujad-55-2114)

Correspondence from Paul Suddes to Redress Recipient which accompanied the new redress apology letter signed by President Bill Clinton. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2217

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-2114/

doc Redress update (ddr-csujad-55-96)

Information about receiving redress payments per the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 for California residents who were also receiving public assistance or Medi-Cal. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_00100

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-96/

doc Letter from Robert K. Bratt, Administrator for Redress, U.S. Department of Justice to Dear Recipient or Guardian, March 30, 1990 (ddr-csujad-55-2042)

Correspondence from Robert K. Bratt to Dear Recipient or Guardian regarding a checklist of required documents for recipients of restitution payments. Includes supporting documentation submitted by George Nakamura. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2145

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-2042/

doc Check for $20,000 from the United States Treasury to Toyoko Masaki (ddr-csujad-55-129)

Restitution check for $20,000 from the United States Treasury to Toyoko Masaki. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0131

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-129/

doc Letter from George Bush, President of the United States, October 1990 (ddr-csujad-55-128)

Form letter from George Bush sent to incarcerees that received a restitution payment. Includes a copy of restitution check sent to Joanne Iritani. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0130

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-128/

doc Letter and restitution check from George Bush to George Nakamura, October 1990 (ddr-csujad-55-2046)

Letter of apology from George Bush expressing recognition of the injustices committed against Japanese Americans during World War II. Includes check for $20,000 to George Hideo Nakamura. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2149

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-2046/

doc Letter from Robert K. Bratt, Administrator for Redress, U.S. Department of Justice to Dear Recipient, December 28, 1989 (ddr-csujad-55-2043)

Correspondence from Robert K. Bratt to Dear Recipient regarding eligibility for redress payments. Includes Declaration of Eligibility by Persons Identified by the Office of Redress Administration for George Hideo Nakamura and Instructions for Submitting Documentation. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2146

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-2043/

doc Letter from Robert K. Bratt, Reparations Administrator, U.S. Department of Justice to Dear Correspondent, 1988 (ddr-csujad-55-86)

Form letter acknowledging receipt of correspondence regarding restitution payment. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_00090

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-86/

doc Letter from Bill Clinton, President of the United States, October 1, 1993 (ddr-csujad-55-2115)

Form letter from President Bill Clinton to redress recipients expressing recognition of the injustices committed against Japanese Americans during World War II. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2218

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-2115/

doc Letter of apology from George H.W. Bush, President of the United States, October 1990 (ddr-csujad-55-920)

Letter of apology from George Bush expressing recognition of the injustices committed against Japanese Americans during World War II. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0922

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-920/

doc Regulations proposed for WWII internees to collect reparations (ddr-csujad-55-2110)

Newspaper clipping regarding the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 and the details of restitution payments for former incarcerees. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2213

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-2110/

doc Check for $20,000 from the United States Treasury to Dorothy Nakamura (ddr-csujad-55-2116)

Restitution check for $20,000 from the United States Treasury to Dorothy Nakamura. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2219

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-2116/

doc Letter from Paul W. Suddes to redress recipient, April 6, 1993 (ddr-csujad-55-2099)

Correspondence from Paul Suddes to Redress Recipient regarding a delay in sending the apology letter. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2202

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-2099/

vh Joe Yamakido Interview Segment 13 (ddr-densho-1000-167-13)

Thoughts on receiving redress: "it's peanuts compared to what it should have been"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-167-13/

vh David Sakura Interview II Segment 12 (ddr-densho-1000-513-12)

Thoughts on the reparations payments during the redress movement

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-513-12/

vh Wesley K. Watanabe Interview Segment 17 (ddr-densho-1000-166-17)

Thoughts on the redress movement: thankful for the apology

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-166-17/

vh Charles Z. Smith Interview Segment 28 (ddr-densho-1000-169-28)

Thoughts on Japanese American redress: "I was literally stunned"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-169-28/

vh Tokio Yamane Interview Segment 37 (ddr-densho-1000-432-37)

Decision to donate redress money (Japanese language)

This interview was conducted in Japanese. The transcript is a translation of the original interview. This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-432-37/

vh May Y. Namba Interview Segment 32 (ddr-densho-1000-171-32)

Thoughts on receiving redress money

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-171-32/

vh Mae Kanazawa Hara Interview Segment 22 (ddr-densho-1000-168-22)

Receiving redress check and apology: donating an organ to church in memory of parents

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-168-22/

vh Harvey Watanabe Interview Segment 29 (ddr-densho-1000-102-29)

Personal reactions to redress: no bitterness

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-102-29/

vh Arthur Ogami Interview Segment 42 (ddr-densho-1000-154-42)

Feelings upon receiving redress: "the apology is just a piece of paper"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-154-42/

vh Mitsuye May Yamada Interview Segment 42 (ddr-densho-1000-137-42)

Mixed feelings upon receiving redress check and apology

Mitsuye Yamada was interviewed together with her two surviving brothers, William Toshio Yasutake and Joseph Yasutake, in group sessions on October 8-9, 2002. She was interviewed individually on October 9-10, 2002.

Before being contacted by Densho, the Yasutake siblings had planned to conduct their own family history interviews. …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-137-42/

vh Tsuguo "Ike" Ikeda Interview III Segment 8 (ddr-densho-1000-125-8)

Reaction to receiving redress and presidential apology, "a miracle"

As a teenager prior to World War II, began keeping scrapbooks with newspaper articles and memorabilia, a lifetime habit.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-125-8/

vh Marian Asao Kurosu Interview Segment 83 (ddr-densho-1000-118-83)

Reactions to receiving redress money

During this interview, Mrs. Kurosu alternately speaks in both English and Japanese. As a result, the English translation of the transcript contains [Jpn.] and [Eng.], which indicate whether the original dialogue was spoken in Japanese or English.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-118-83/