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On hearing of CWRIC selection from Senator Inouye

I had no reaction one way or the other. Really, I didn’t. I did not call the senator back, and I know [US Senator] Dan [Inouye] probably remembers (chuckles) my failure to call him back, but the reason was simply this, one of the reasons [is] I did not use my judge’s telephone system to make toll calls chargeable to someone else. I want to keep that record clean.

I know this may sound [like I’m] being overly sensitive, but you got to, because, otherwise, people will pick on you that you use the municipal system for private business or non-municipal affairs. So I did not call Dan back. Now, yes, I could have gone to a public phone, but by the time I finished my day at work, and I would go to a public phone, I’m sure Dan’s office would be closed. And that situation just continued on and on. I never called Dan and acknowledged the fact that he was instrumental, which I believe he was.

I’m not sure that he was instrumental in having me appointed to the commission [Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians].


Redress movement

Date: August 27, 1998

Location: Pennsylvania, US

Interviewer: Darcie Iki, Mitchell Maki

Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum

Interviewee Bio

The Honorable William Marutani was born in Kent, Washington. With the enforcement of Executive Order 9066, Marutani was forced to leave his classes at the University of Washington and sent to Fresno Assembly Center in 1942, and later Tule Lake concentration camp. He was released to attend Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, SD in the fall of 1942 as a pre-law student.

After being rejected by the U.S. Navy for being classified as a 4-C enemy alien, Marutani was finally able to serve by joining the Army where he was assigned to the Military Intelligence Service. Following his service, Marutani attended law school at the University of Chicago and moved to Pennsylvania for a six-month clerkship, where he stayed until 1975, when he was appointed to the bench of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.

Marutani became active in the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) and served in many different positions. Marutani was appointed to serve on the nine-member Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians (CWRIC) that was created by President Jimmy Carter to investigate matters concerning the wartime incarceration of Japanese Americans. Marutani was the only Japanese American to serve on the commission. (April 11, 2008)

Clifford Uyeda
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Clifford Uyeda

Recalling President Carter’s signing of the Commission bill

(1917 - 2004) Political activist

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Clifford Uyeda
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Clifford Uyeda

John Tateishi plays a role in changing people's minds

(1917 - 2004) Political activist

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Clifford Uyeda
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Clifford Uyeda

Legacy of redress

(1917 - 2004) Political activist

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Frank Emi
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Frank Emi

“No more shikataganai

(1916-2010) draft resister, helped form the Heart Mountain Fair Play Committee

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William Hohri
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William Hohri

The lawsuit set the standard for restoring people’s rights

(1927-2010) Political Activist

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Norman Yoshio Mineta
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Norman Yoshio Mineta

Beginnings of CWRIC

(b. 1931) U.S. Former Secretary of Transportation

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Norman Yoshio Mineta
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Norman Yoshio Mineta

Bill 442

(b. 1931) U.S. Former Secretary of Transportation

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Norman Yoshio Mineta
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Norman Yoshio Mineta

The last hurdle – President Reagan

(b. 1931) U.S. Former Secretary of Transportation

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Jimmy Murakami
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Jimmy Murakami

Reparations

(1933 – 2014) Japanese American animator

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Kazumu Naganuma
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Kazumu Naganuma

His sister secured reparations for the family

(b. 1942) Japanese Peruvian incarcerated in Crystal City

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