Seattle JACL Oral History Collection ddr-sjacl-2
21 items
21 items
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In Memory of Phil Hayasaka Interview (ddr-sjacl-2-22)
In this interview, Camila Nakashima and Bill Tashima interviewed Lois Hayasaka, widow of the late Phil Hayasaka, Seattle JACL Chapter President in 1961. Hayasaka was a visionary leader who fiercely advocated for JACL to advocate for all people in the 1960's civil rights struggles. As chair of the Chapter's Civil Rights and Human Rights committee and …
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Tomio Moriguchi Interview (ddr-sjacl-2-23)
Kristen M. Eng and Bill Tashima interviewed Tomio Moriguchi. While Moriguchi is often associated with Uwajimaya, Moriguchi's community activism includes co-chairing MOHAI"s "Pride and Shame" exhibit, displaying WWII JA experience through the "Pride" of the Japanese Americans and the "Shame" of racial prejudice, wartime hysteria, and lack of government leadership. This exhibit later toured throughout Washington …
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Janice Deguchi Interview (ddr-sjacl-2-24)
Alison Fujimoto and Joy St. Germain interviewed 1998 Chapter President, Janice Deguchi. During her tenure, third generation Sansei Deguchi was one of the youngest Chapter Presidents. Deguchi helped lead the Chapter in forming a coalition of PoC groups to fight an initiative that would bar Affirmative Action programs in Washington State. Although unsuccessful, Deguchi and other …
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Ryan Chin Interview (ddr-sjacl-2-25)
Camila Nakashima and Bill Tashima interviewed Ryan Chin. Ryan Chin was Seattle JACL Chapter President in 2011 and was also a three-time National JACL Vice-President. Chin became active with Seattle JACL as a student at UW and organized successful events. As President, Chin was transformative in bringing the Chapter into the age of technology and worked …
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Akemi Matsumoto Interview (ddr-sjacl-2-26)
Alison Fujimoto and Dr. Kyle Kinoshita interviewed Akemi Matsumoto. Akemi Matsumoto first joined Seattle JACL in the 1970s as a fresh Sansei student activist. Thiis activism continued through her Chapter Presidency in 2001. Matsumoto was a firm believer achieving change through political clout via effective coalition building. Matsumoto continued her activities with Seattle JACL by connecting …
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Sharon Sobie Seymour Interview (ddr-sjacl-2-27)
Kristen M. Eng and Bill Tashima interviewed Sharon Sobie Seymour. Seymour was Seattle Chapter President in 2000 was the first "hapa" or mixed-race Japanese American Seattle JACL President. Seymour represented a new wave of JACL leaders. Seymour led the Chapter to engage in broadening the Chapter's educational programs by teaming with other Chapter members to conduct …
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HyeEun Park Interview (ddr-sjacl-2-28)
Brent Seto and Bill Tashima interviewed HyeEun Park. HyeEun Park was Chapter President in 2013 and as a Korean American was the Seattle JACL's first non-Nikkei President. Park was deeply concerned with the lack of equity and equality in our justice system. Park pushed the Chapter to host an event to remember the anniversary of Vincent …
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Gabrielle Nomura Gainor Interview (ddr-sjacl-2-29)
Ana Tanaka and Dr. Kyle Kinoshita interview Gabrielle Kazuko Nomura Gainor. Gainor is a mixed-race Gosei (fifth generation Japanese American) who represents the next generation of mixed-race Nikkei activists and artists who use their skills as a platform to raise their voices to bring issues of BIPoC legacy and social justice to the table. As a …
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Theo Bickel Interview (ddr-sjacl-2-30)
Elaine Kim and Joy Misako St. Germain interviewed Theo Bickel. Theo's introduction to JACL was as an intern at the National JACL. At a JACL National Convention in Las Vegas, Bill Tashima invited Theo to work with and collaborate with the Seattle JACL Chapter. Theo's focus has been to strengthen communications among JACL members, executive JACL …
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Sarah Baker Interview (ddr-sjacl-2-31)
Brent Seto and Bill Tashima interviewed Sarah E. Baker. Baker was a four-time Chapter president from 2016-2019, two-time National JACL Vice-President from 2018-2022, local activist, community organizer, actor/dancer/director who balanced these tasks while working full time and being a full-time undergraduate/graduate student. Baker organized two community-wide gatherings to support API LGBTQ+ youth and families, galvanized Seattle …
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In Memory of Tatsuo Nakata Interview (ddr-sjacl-2-32)
In this interview, Brent Seto led a panel of Tatsuo Nakata's friends (Akemi Matsumoto, Emily Momohara, Joy Shigaki, Arlene Oki, and Bill Tashima) in a remembrance of Tatsuo Nakata. The charismatic Nakata was a leader for Japanese American and mixed-race youth as well as the Seattle JACL's youngest Chapter President. Nakata pushed the envelope for the …
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Stan Shikuma Interview (ddr-sjacl-2-33)
In this interview, Ana Tanaka and Dr. Kyle Kinoshita led a conversation with Stan Shikuma in which he related his family's experiences during the World War II incarceration, and the return to California. Stan related how growing up in the turbulent '60's and '70's began to impel him into activism in the Bay Area, beginning with …
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In Memory of Cherry Kinoshita Interview (ddr-sjacl-2-34)
In this interview, Ana Tanaka and Joy Misako St. Germain interviewed Dr. Kyle Kinoshita to discuss Kinoshita's mother's, the late Cherry Kinoshita and Kyle Kinoshita's contributions to the JACL and the JA community. "Keep Your Eyes on the Prize," could well have been Cherry Kinoshita's mantra. She was the linchpin in the Seattle JACL and National …
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Joy Misako St. Germain Interview (ddr-sjacl-2-35)
Ana Tanaka and Dr. Kyle Kinoshita led a conversation with Joy Misako St. Germain, detailing how she became involved with JACL and became a Seattle leader. Being one of just a few Japanese American families where she grew up, she felt a deep longing for a sense of community. Her love for Japanese American culture is …
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In Memory of Elaine Akagi Interview (ddr-sjacl-2-36)
In this session, Elaine Kim led a panel of Elaine Reiko Akagi's friends (Ann Fujii Lindwall, Arlene Oki, Karen Yoshitomi, and Bill Tashima) in a remembrance conversation on Akagi. Elaine Reiko Akagi devoted her life to JACL, teaching children with special education needs, and a love of animals She was active in the Detroit Jr. JACL …
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Arlene Oki Interview (ddr-sjacl-2-37)
Elaine Kim and Dr. Kyle Kinoshita interviewed Arlene Oki. Oki is a longtime Seattle JACLer and is the heart of the Seattle JACL Board for over 40 years. She began as a recording secretary at a critical time during Redress and witnessed the heated conflicts during the hammering out of Seattle's leadership of the movement. Oki …
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Kathryn Bannai Interview (ddr-sjacl-2-38)
Elaine Kim and Bill Tashima interviewed Kathryn Bannai. Kathryn Bannai was the lead counsel in Gordon Hirabayashi's coram nobis case (1983 – February 1985). Among other critical work, she successfully defeated the government's effort to dismiss Hirabayashi's case, which led to overturning Hirabayashi's convictions for resisting the curfew and exclusion orders promulgated under E.O. 9066. Bannai …
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Bill Tashima Interview (ddr-sjacl-2-39)
In this interview, Ana Tanaka led a conversation with Bill Tashima. Bill spoke of his growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, his early involvement with JACL as a youth participant, and his coming to the Pacific Northwest in the 1980's. Bill has extensive experience with Seattle JACL's advocacy, community outreach, civil rights and for ensuring the continuation …
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In Memory of Kip Tokuda Interview (ddr-sjacl-2-40)
In this session, Ana Tanaka led a panel of Kip Tokuda's friends (Janice Deguchi, Akemi Matsumoto, Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos, Barbara Lui, and Bill Tashima) in a remembrance of Tokuda. Tokuda was an iconic leader in the Japanese American community who as a Washington State Legislator, Seattle JACL President, and local organizer advocated and established programs …
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Ray Ishii Interview (ddr-sjacl-2-41)
In this interview, Ana Tanaka and Joy Misako St. Germain led the conversation with Ray Ishii who served as the Seattle JACL President in 1994. Ray was first involved with JACL in the late 80's and early 90's encouraged by community leader Al Sugiyama and others, including Janice Deguchi and Joy Misako St. Germain, who encouraged …
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The Kurose Family Interview (ddr-sjacl-2-42)
Elaine Kim led a panel interview of Ruthann, Paul, and Mika Kurose. The conversation also touched upon reflections about Aki Kurose, Seattle teacher and peace activist who was Ruthann and Paul's mother, and Mika's grandmother, as well as about Junelow (Junx) whose love and support of Aki as her husband reinforces the incredible strength of the …