Born: Unknown, United States
Died: Unknown
Country most active: United States
Also known as: Unknown
The following is republished from the Densho Encyclopedia, in line with the Creative Commons licensing.
Wartime test case that challenged the detention of Japanese Americans forcibly removed from the West Coast. Ernest Kinzo and Toki Wakayama were a Nisei couple living in California who approached the American Civil Liberties Union in April 1942 about challenging their forced removal. Given Ernest’s status as a World War I veteran and American Legion member, they were initially viewed as a good test case. Upon their incarceration at Santa Anita Assembly Center, a habeas corpus petition was filed on behalf of Toki Wakayama. Though the petition was eventually granted in February of 1943 and set for a full hearing, the Wakayamas had by this time decided to abandon the case; embittered by their incarceration, they had decided to seek “repatriation” to Japan.