Shortly after the 1980s’ Commission on Wartime
Relocation and Internment of Civilians (CWIRC) hearings
in Chicago, Yoji Ozaki started discussion groups for
Japanese American senior citizen residents at Heiwa Terrace.
These watershed hearings gave psychological permission
to former internees to finally discuss their camp experiences.
As was the case in many other Japanese American communities,
these discussions provided a much needed opportunity
to come to terms with past traumatic events.
Later, in the early 1990s, Scott La France from the
Chicago Historical Society asked the Japanese American
community for its help in developing the exhibit “Chicago
Goes to War, 1941-45.” Yoji Ozaki responded and
the Japanese American relocation story was included
in this major exhibit. Following this experience with
the community, La France saw a need for formalizing
historical documentation and recommended forming a
Chicago Japanese American Historical Society.
Board Members 2006
Pat Aiko Amino
Deborah Mieko Burns
Mary Doi
Laurel Fujisawa
Erika Varricchio Hanner
Hiro Mayeda
Kimiyo Naka
Marlynne Nishimura
Officers:
President: Jean Mishima
Secretary: Alice Murata
Treasurer: Jane Hidaka
Board
Members: 2004
Pat Aiko Amino
Deborah Mieko Burns
Mary Doi
Laurel Fujisawa
Erika Varricchio Hanner
Hiro Mayeda
Marlynne Nishimura
Kimiyo Naka
Jennifer Toguri
