In 1945, his Alien Enemy Proceedings were officially terminated.
There is so much more to his story, and that of his family- but that’s enough for now.
There is so much more to his story, and that of his family- but that’s enough for now.
May 10, 2025 at 7:14 PM
In 1945, his Alien Enemy Proceedings were officially terminated.
There is so much more to his story, and that of his family- but that’s enough for now.
There is so much more to his story, and that of his family- but that’s enough for now.
So in Nov 1943, my great grandfather got to meet my mom, his daughter Jane’s first child, who was born in Gila River Camp 11 months prior. Here he is with his wife at Gila, and the other one is my mom and her friend in the cart in which he proudly paraded his first grandchild around the camp.
May 10, 2025 at 7:14 PM
So in Nov 1943, my great grandfather got to meet my mom, his daughter Jane’s first child, who was born in Gila River Camp 11 months prior. Here he is with his wife at Gila, and the other one is my mom and her friend in the cart in which he proudly paraded his first grandchild around the camp.
Thankfully, in late 1943 (we always thought 1944), the AG agreed with the Board and ordered that my great grandfather be paroled and reunited with his family at Gila River Relocation Center. The grateful letter from his family belies the sadness and trauma the separation from him caused them.
May 10, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Thankfully, in late 1943 (we always thought 1944), the AG agreed with the Board and ordered that my great grandfather be paroled and reunited with his family at Gila River Relocation Center. The grateful letter from his family belies the sadness and trauma the separation from him caused them.
But the reviewing authority disagreed, recommending a renewed finding that he was dangerous and should be interned.
May 10, 2025 at 7:14 PM
But the reviewing authority disagreed, recommending a renewed finding that he was dangerous and should be interned.
For his next hearing, my great grandfather, a Jodo Shinshu Buddhist priest, wrote about his love of democracy, devotion to Buddhism, and opposition to the Shinto view that the Japanese emperor is god. He appears to have testified to the same. The Alien Enemy Hearing Board recommended his release.
May 10, 2025 at 7:14 PM
For his next hearing, my great grandfather, a Jodo Shinshu Buddhist priest, wrote about his love of democracy, devotion to Buddhism, and opposition to the Shinto view that the Japanese emperor is god. He appears to have testified to the same. The Alien Enemy Hearing Board recommended his release.
During that time, my great grandfather’s wife and children wrote many pleading letters, and my great grandfather filed a petition for family reunification, to be “released” to the same War Relocation Authority camp where his wife and 5 kids were imprisoned.
May 10, 2025 at 7:14 PM
During that time, my great grandfather’s wife and children wrote many pleading letters, and my great grandfather filed a petition for family reunification, to be “released” to the same War Relocation Authority camp where his wife and 5 kids were imprisoned.
Thus, the Attorney General ordered he be interned. He spent the next almost year and a half in several alien enemy camps.
May 10, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Thus, the Attorney General ordered he be interned. He spent the next almost year and a half in several alien enemy camps.
A reviewing authority concurred.
May 10, 2025 at 7:14 PM
A reviewing authority concurred.
The part that seems worth sharing here is how much process alien enemies received then compared to today, even during what I think most would agree was a shameful history of American history. After his first hearing, the Alien Enemy Hearing Board recommended he be found dangerous and interned.
May 10, 2025 at 7:14 PM
The part that seems worth sharing here is how much process alien enemies received then compared to today, even during what I think most would agree was a shameful history of American history. After his first hearing, the Alien Enemy Hearing Board recommended he be found dangerous and interned.
I requested my great grandfather’s alien enemy file from the National Records Archive. 300ish pages arrived in parts. Some is just paperwork- immigration forms, the alien enemy questionnaire, etc. Parts feel too personal to share here- letters from his young daughters, pleading for his release.
May 10, 2025 at 7:14 PM
I requested my great grandfather’s alien enemy file from the National Records Archive. 300ish pages arrived in parts. Some is just paperwork- immigration forms, the alien enemy questionnaire, etc. Parts feel too personal to share here- letters from his young daughters, pleading for his release.
So in Nov 1943, my great grandfather got to meet my mom, his daughter Jane’s first child, who was born in Gila River Camp 11 months prior. Here he is with his wife at Gila, and the other one is my mom and her friend in the cart in which he proudly paraded his first grandchild around the camp.
May 10, 2025 at 7:01 PM
So in Nov 1943, my great grandfather got to meet my mom, his daughter Jane’s first child, who was born in Gila River Camp 11 months prior. Here he is with his wife at Gila, and the other one is my mom and her friend in the cart in which he proudly paraded his first grandchild around the camp.
Thankfully, in late 1943 (we always thought 1944), the AG agreed with the Board and ordered that my great grandfather be paroled and reunited with his family at Gila River Relocation Center. The grateful letter from his family belies the sadness and trauma the separation from him caused them.
May 10, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Thankfully, in late 1943 (we always thought 1944), the AG agreed with the Board and ordered that my great grandfather be paroled and reunited with his family at Gila River Relocation Center. The grateful letter from his family belies the sadness and trauma the separation from him caused them.
But the reviewing authority disagreed, recommending a renewed finding that he was dangerous and should be interned.
May 10, 2025 at 7:01 PM
But the reviewing authority disagreed, recommending a renewed finding that he was dangerous and should be interned.
For his next hearing, my great grandfather, a Jodo Shinshu Buddhist priest, wrote about his love of democracy, devotion to Buddhism, and opposition to the Shinto view that the Japanese emperor is god. He appears to have testified to the same. The Alien Enemy Hearing Board recommended his release.
May 10, 2025 at 7:01 PM
For his next hearing, my great grandfather, a Jodo Shinshu Buddhist priest, wrote about his love of democracy, devotion to Buddhism, and opposition to the Shinto view that the Japanese emperor is god. He appears to have testified to the same. The Alien Enemy Hearing Board recommended his release.
During that time, my great grandfather’s wife and children wrote many pleading letters, and my great grandfather filed a petition for family reunification, to be “released” to the same War Relocation Authority camp where his wife and 5 kids were imprisoned.
May 10, 2025 at 7:01 PM
During that time, my great grandfather’s wife and children wrote many pleading letters, and my great grandfather filed a petition for family reunification, to be “released” to the same War Relocation Authority camp where his wife and 5 kids were imprisoned.
Thus, the Attorney General ordered he be interned. He spent the next almost year and a half in several alien enemy camps.
May 10, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Thus, the Attorney General ordered he be interned. He spent the next almost year and a half in several alien enemy camps.
A reviewing authority concurred.
May 10, 2025 at 7:01 PM
A reviewing authority concurred.
The part that seems worth sharing here is how much process alien enemies received then compared to today, even during what I think most would agree was a shameful history of American history. After his first hearing, the Alien Enemy Hearing Board recommended he be found dangerous and interned.
May 10, 2025 at 7:01 PM
The part that seems worth sharing here is how much process alien enemies received then compared to today, even during what I think most would agree was a shameful history of American history. After his first hearing, the Alien Enemy Hearing Board recommended he be found dangerous and interned.
This is his letter to his family when they were “interned.” It makes me both sad and angry how accepting he and many were of all of this. In a sense, we have come a long way since then- with the ACLU et al jumping into action at the first hint of the AEA invocation. If only the courts could save us.
April 24, 2025 at 3:16 AM
This is his letter to his family when they were “interned.” It makes me both sad and angry how accepting he and many were of all of this. In a sense, we have come a long way since then- with the ACLU et al jumping into action at the first hint of the AEA invocation. If only the courts could save us.
Looking over the notes on this “Japanese internee card,” it struck me that every time they needed to add one of the sad notations (“Ltr from Mary- Can I help in securing father’s release”), someone had to line that notecard up perfectly on a typewriter and tap it out on there.
April 24, 2025 at 1:29 AM
Looking over the notes on this “Japanese internee card,” it struck me that every time they needed to add one of the sad notations (“Ltr from Mary- Can I help in securing father’s release”), someone had to line that notecard up perfectly on a typewriter and tap it out on there.
I found part of my great grandfather’s alien enemy file online at the National Records Archive today (ordered the rest). I noticed right away that he got a hearing notice and there were Board decisions in his case. At least, minimum due process seems to have been given.
April 24, 2025 at 1:29 AM
I found part of my great grandfather’s alien enemy file online at the National Records Archive today (ordered the rest). I noticed right away that he got a hearing notice and there were Board decisions in his case. At least, minimum due process seems to have been given.
He died of stomach cancer in Guadalupe soon after his release. By all accounts, he was a truly inspiring man, loved and remembered for his gentle tenacity and care for his community- my great grandfather, the enemy alien. Think of people like him when you hear all the propaganda in the days ahead.
March 16, 2025 at 4:35 AM
He died of stomach cancer in Guadalupe soon after his release. By all accounts, he was a truly inspiring man, loved and remembered for his gentle tenacity and care for his community- my great grandfather, the enemy alien. Think of people like him when you hear all the propaganda in the days ahead.
In Nov 1944, he was reunited with his family at Gila River camp. He was so proud of his first granddaughter, my mom, who was born in the camp. He used to tie her into a wagon and parade her around the camp where the wind blew sand everywhere. (To this day, she fears being restrained and hates sand).
March 16, 2025 at 4:35 AM
In Nov 1944, he was reunited with his family at Gila River camp. He was so proud of his first granddaughter, my mom, who was born in the camp. He used to tie her into a wagon and parade her around the camp where the wind blew sand everywhere. (To this day, she fears being restrained and hates sand).
Soon after his arrest, his wife and children were imprisoned at Tulare and then Gila River Relocation Center, pursuant to Exec. Order 9066. He wrote them often. He started suffering from severe stomach pain, which he later learned was cancer. He was given no real care, only pain killers in prison.
March 16, 2025 at 4:35 AM
Soon after his arrest, his wife and children were imprisoned at Tulare and then Gila River Relocation Center, pursuant to Exec. Order 9066. He wrote them often. He started suffering from severe stomach pain, which he later learned was cancer. He was given no real care, only pain killers in prison.