Discover Nikkei Logo

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/nikkeialbum/items/766/

Japanophilia

(John Tateishi)


Published: April 29, 2007 Modified: Feb. 11, 2025

John Tateishi is the author of "And Justice for All: An Oral History of the Japanese-American Detention Camps", which was first published in 1984. I first heard of this author when I read his book, but after further research, I discovered him to be a prominent figure in Japanese-American history.

In 1978, as National Redress Director of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), Tateishi spearheaded a national campaign to seek redress for Japanese Americans who were interned by the U.S. government for the duration of World War II. He succeeded in this effort, and the government issued formal apologies and monetary recompensation for former internees.

He is the author of one book and a contributing author to a second. "And Justice for All: An Oral History of the Japanese-American Detention Camps", consists of the transcribed accounts of thirty former internees. "Last Witnesses: Reflections on the Wartime Internment of Japanese Americans" was edited by Erica Harth. Tateishi contributed his own account to this work, which details the stories of former internees, their children, and non-Asian residents. His own account details the concern that Japanese-Americans are sometimes still considered enemies living within America.

Since 1999, Tateishi has been the National Executive Director of the JACL, and he continues to be an activist for the rights of Japanese Americans.


This work is licensed under a Public Domain


1970s 1980s Japanese Americans

Part of this album

Japanophilia
This collection brings together student work from a seminar held at Occidental College, titled "Japanophilia: Orientalism, Nationalism, Transnationalism." The class examined the relationship between collecting/appropriating Japanese cultur…
View Album
Discover Nikkei brandmark

The new Nikkei Album!

We’re excited to share our redesigned Nikkei Album. It’s a work-in-progress, so please have patience as we add more features and functionality. It will be an exciting tool for our community to easily share photos, videos, and text! Learn More
Discover Nikkei brandmark

New Site Design

See exciting new changes to Discover Nikkei. Find out what’s new and what’s coming soon! Learn More

Discover Nikkei Updates

SUPPORT THE PROJECT
Discover Nikkei’s 20 for 20 campaign celebrates our first 20 years and jumpstarts our next 20. Learn more and donate!
SHARE YOUR MEMORIES
We are collecting our community’s reflections on the first 20 years of Discover Nikkei. Check out this month’s prompt and send us your response!
PROJECT UPDATES
New Site Design
See exciting new changes to Discover Nikkei. Find out what’s new and what’s coming soon!