Interviews
Being Denied as a Japanese American Lawyer
But I remember when I was at the law firm, a new matter came in from a client- a client had a long relationship with another lawyer in the firm, a real terrific lawyer, a fellow named John Austin. And John asked me, “Listen I want you…would you take this matter for me? I think you can do it” and all this kind of stuff, and I said “Sure.”
So I met with the client, and then, on the way out, the client stopped to see John Austin, and John came to see me and told me that the client didn’t want me to be his lawyer, and I couldn’t figure out why. He never did say, but since he had just met him, I think it had to be because I was Japanese. And John said to his credit, “Well, that’s who we are gonna have to do this case so if you don’t want him then we can’t take the matter.” So John Austin refused it much to his credit.
But anyway, things like that would happen during that era, that period. Something like that would happen much less today, I think.
Date: July 2, 2014
Location: California, US
Interviewer: Sakura Kato
Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum; Japanese American Bar Association
Explore More Videos
Her experience as a Japanese-American schoolchild in Oceanside, California, after the bombing of Pearl Harbor
(1924-2018) Artist and playwright.
Change in attitudes after World War II
(b. 1924) Political scientist, educator, and administrator from Hawai`i
Thoughts on the post-9/11 atmosphere in the U.S.
(1930-2018) Nisei born in Peru. Taken to the United States during WWII.
Dealing with racism within army unit in Korea
(b. 1939) Japanese American painter, printmaker & professor
Making the decision to resist the draft
(b. 1923) Nisei from Washington. Resisted draft during WWII.
Undergraduate studies interrupted following Pearl Harbor
(b. 1921) Nisei businessman. Established "Made in Oregon" retail stores
Difficulty getting work during World War II
(b. 1921) Nisei businessman. Established "Made in Oregon" retail stores
Discharged from the U.S. Army after Pearl Harbor
(b. 1918) Founder Azumano Travel
Stereotypes about Japanese: past and present (Spanish)
(b. 1937) Professional journalist
World War II hysteria against Japanese in New York City
(1924-2018) Researcher, Activist
Being an American soldier and an "enemy alien"
(1923-2011) Lawyer, MIS veteran, founder of Francis and Sarah Sogi Foundation