Shimeji Kanazawa
Nisei activist who was the community liaison between the Japanese community and the military government in Hawai’i during World War II. She later supported community causes for the elderly like Project Dana.
Tag Archives: Asian Descent > Japan
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Ruth Nomura Tanbara
In August of 1942, Ruth Tanbara and her husband, Earl, were the first Japanese Americans to resettle in St. Paul as a result of President Roosevelt’s Executive Order 9066. They assisted the St. Paul Resettlement Committee during World War II and remained in the city after the war’s end, becoming life-long community leaders in St. Paul.
Wakako Yamauchi
Distinguished playwright, short-story writer, poet and painter.
Tsuyako “Sox” Kitashima
San Francisco Bay Area-based Nisei redress activist who has been called the heart and soul of San Francisco National Coalition for Redress/Reparations
Carolyn Hisako Tanaka
Nicknamed Road Runner for her unflagging energy and enthusiasm, Carolyn Hisako Tanaka served in Vietnam in spite of a scarring childhood memory.
Susan Kikuchi
Susan Kikuchi was a member of the Martha Graham Dance Company (MGDC) and served as Director of the Graham Ensemble and School, and Artistic Program Manager of MGDC. She has re-staged many Graham works for the MGDC, Joffrey Ballet, Boston Conservatory and other companies.
Yuriko Kikuchi
American dancer and choreographer.
Mary Matsuda Gruenewald
Mary Matsuda Gruenewald, a fearless and determined advocate for education, has demonstrated that the pursuit of knowledge is an act of resistance against injustice.
Aki Kurose
A teacher and activist, Aki Kurose spent her life advocating for education and social justice through pacifism. Through her beliefs in peace and nonviolence, she worked towards the betterment of her community, advocated for desegregation, and strove to improve education.
Naomi Osaka
Naomi Osaka is one of the world’s greatest tennis players, having won numerous tournaments and awards and reaching the rank of World No. 1. Her openness about her struggles with mental health and the pressure of expectations inspired many athletes and others to share their own stories.