November 10, 1999
Mr. Terry Carlstrom, Regional Director
National Capital Region
National Park Service
1100 Ohio Drive, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20242
Dear Mr. Carlstrom:
Having written earlier about other matters regarding the proposed inscription on the proposed monument honoring the Japanese American community, we are constrained to write again to ask you to use your influence and position to urge the Board of the National Japanese American Memorial Foundation (NJAMF) to reconsider using a quotation from the Japanese American Creed by Mike M. Masaoka.
Having been among recent contributors from a dozen law schools including Harvard and Georgetown to a symposium issue of the Boston College Law Review (Volume 40, No. 1) which considered the Japanese American concentration camp experience in depth, we are surprised and chagrined at the possibility of the Masaoka quotation being made a permanent part of the memorial. As contemporary legal scholars look at the history of the Japanese American experience during World War II, Mr. Masaoka’s place in that history has become increasingly controversial and problematic. While this is neither the time nor place to debate either his role or his legacy it is important to note for the record that there is evidence in material commissioned by the Japanese American Citizens League itself that he proposed a "suicide battalion" of Japanese Americans be formed whose loyalty would be assured by family and friends being held by the government, and in 1942 proposed to the government that Japanese Americans be branded, stamped and utilized as cheap labor in the sugar beet fields. In addition, Masaoka failed to support the first Japanese American redress legislation introduced in 1979, and initially opposed individual monetary redress for Japanese Americans. If this is indicative of Mr. Masaoka’s approach to the application of his "Creed" then to memorialize it and him in a tribute to Japanese Americans is both historically shortsighted as well as insulting.
Our hope is that this memorial be one which represents all Japanese Americans and inspires every American irrespective of background. Yet, it is also important to remember that the history of Japanese Americans comes with a specific context and character. We expect that those who will seek to memorialize us will be vigilant ensuring that the historical and social implications of their decisions will be positive ones for future generations and will act accordingly. As such, we want there to be a public record that those who are charged with the responsibility of the memorial were given notice of these troubling avenues of inquiry before they made their decision to include the Masaoka quotation.
Thank you for your consideration.
Very truly yours,
Eric Yamamoto
Professor of Law
Chris Iijima
Assistant Professor of Law
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