Densho Digital Repository - In Memory of Tatsuo Nakata Interview (Densho ID: ddr-sjacl-2-32-15)

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BS: Yeah, and I guess this will be my last question before wrapping up. But from working as a legislative assistant under Washington Representative, Velma Veloria, to becoming Chief of Staff for Seattle City Councilmember David Della, to lobbying in political campaigns, it's very clear that Tatsuo was very politically involved, very charismatic, very hard working young man. So what do you think his lasting impact in the community has been? And I would really like to hear what all of you have to say about this. So I guess let's start with Emily.

EM: Can I go later? I need to formulate my...

BS: Sorry for putting you on the spot like that. If anyone's ready to speak to this, I would really like to hear what you have to say.

EM: Okay, I can go. [Laughs] I just, you know, I moved away in 2003 for grad school, and so my time on the board, and working in JACL Seattle was short. And I think Tatsuo's leadership was so much of what was accomplished while I was there. So I think for me, I just, when I think about that time, I mean, there's really no campaign or issue or event that I can't remember him being a part of. And so I think that just the legacy is, you know, being a young person and still being able to be a leader and being involved, and that's, I mean, that's really what we what we want for JACL in the future.

BT: For me, that lasting impact for Tatsuo again, is just keeping the chapter moving back onto a trajectory to always be open to new issues, especially issues that involve younger folks. Because we can share our values, but sometimes specific issues can change over the years. And if we become entrenched in one program, we are missing out on connecting with newer generations. I think as a community, you know, Tatsuo will always be an example like Emily's saying, someone that's young, that's making a difference. And I think about the fact that each year, the International Examiner, and they have the Community Voice Awards, they always award the Tatsuo Nakata Youth Leadership Award. And so I think that's just a reminder to the community and to people that they award, all that other folks have gone before them.

AM: So Tatsuo was in the first class of the Asian community leadership fellowship program that Kip Tokuda created after he was president of JACL. And, again, the idea was to pass leadership intentionally. And I know Kip really felt that they sort of learned as Sanseis by the seat of their pants, and they wanted to help people shortcut some of that learning process. So again, I see it on a trajectory and lots of things happening in our community, that, again, the time and the place to move to Yonsei leadership. And he was a great leader, and he brought other young people with him. So he kept us in presidents for the next five to ten years, I think. [Laughs]

JS: I think it'd be similar. I mean, this is what's kind of amazing like thinking how young he was, because I think I must have been five or eight years older than him at the time, and a commitment to community in that way that I think was really important to both model, but also to do that cross-generationally, because I think that he really, he valued that. And I think, again, you don't live in, you can be in isolation of not growing in your leadership, but so much is about learning from the wisdom of those who came before you and those you're working alongside. And that doesn't exist in a lot of organizations anymore. But that was such a unique and special history and legacy piece to JACL. And then in his work in government, he had a bigger context to the political landscape. And that also is the legacy in history, both of JACL, but when we talk about social change work, it also needs to happen through a lens of policy work. And he as a staffer, understood how to navigate City Hall and, and state government, so that all of us could see ourselves and I think inviting people in to becoming changemakers in that, and I think that's also a testament of his understanding of making that accessible for people who may not see themselves in having that kind of impact. But how much he enjoyed and loved that, and of sharing that with other people and bringing forth kind of, I think all of who he was in his work, in his community work and his professional work, that so much was very intrinsically tied together. And I think to what we had talked about, too, like this not needing to be like, "And he's hapa," that that actually, as the community was changing, was also ensuring that we were creating a sense of belonging, though, for folks who identified as multiracial in our community. Which at times, I don't think -- as Emily had mentioned -- may not have seen that it was a difficult issue for our community, but whereby there was a greater sense of belonging for folks to feel like they could be included in Japanese American institutions and be fully invited in.

BS: I'm not sure if Arlene is here right now. Arlene, are you with us? Okay, I think she might be having some technical difficulties with the microphone. But I guess in that case, I'll start wrapping up. Is there anything else that any of you wanted to mention or describe that we did not cover today? I know we covered a lot, so maybe not, but if there is. Okay, yes.

EM: I think we've talked a lot about who he was as an activist and as a politician. But he, you know, he was goofy and he was fun. And, you know, he would do dumb things just to make you laugh. He was that kind of person. So, you know, he wasn't all just about business. He was a very, he was a human and a really fun person. Which is why I think so many people were drawn to him.

BT: Emily, I think you're... it reminded me of another story, sorry. But it was, when you say fun it was his relationship also with May Namba. And if you got those two together, especially at a meeting, it was like they were having their own conversation. And you'd be trying to conduct the business and they'd always be laughing. And you knew that they both were very committed and engaged in the meeting, but they had this thing going. It's like, hey, include me in on this, too. But they were having fun but you're right. So I, again, I think that's the end of our session. I want to thank Brent for your job here as our lead and also for everybody for participating and I hope that you all had fun and it was very informative. So thanks again and, yeah, have a good day.