Welcome to the Twin Cities Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL). JACL is a national membership organization whose mission is to secure and maintain the human and civil rights of Americans victimized by injustice.
JACL derives its effectiveness through its strategically located regional offices, which serve the needs of the organization’s members and help maintain the well-being of all Americans.
In addition to its national headquarters in San Francisco, the JACL has regional offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, and Washington D.C.
The Pacific Citizen, publishing news and information for and about the Asian American community since 1929, is a production of the JACL Los Angeles office.
2023 – A Year In Review
JACL National Convention 2023
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www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15254861?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2Tc8y3iY5T6tN_7vI3nEd0EWjjHFFEOlYG...
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Little Tokyo in Los Angeles has been named as one of “America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places” by the National Trust Historic Preservation, a U.S. nonprofit organization.
www.facebook.com/historycoolkids/posts/pfbid02aPRmYP5KHJ2GcbCahn21zWPmuiFZP4svV1MKXv4gLrHZxg4XKHU...Considering how poorly Asian men are portrayed in Hollywood, I was genuinely surprised to learn about Sessue Hayakawa, a Japanese actor who became one of the biggest stars during the American silent era of the 1910s.![]()
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He became one of Hollywood’s first sex symbols after starring in the film, The Cheat (1915) in which he plays a cruel villain (there’s a scene in which he literally brands a woman). Despite his portrayal, Hayakawa became extremely popular with American women for his “broodingly handsome” good looks. At one point, he was the highest paid actor in Hollywood (making over $3,500 a week), and his fame was on par with that of Charlie Chaplin.![]()
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Although, Hayakawa was highly sought after during the 1910s and early 1920s, he became disillusioned by constantly being typecast for the same roles. He decided to start his own production company to fight Asian stereotypes and ended up producing 23 films in a span of three years. However, he had to scrap his company after getting into an argument with a distributor who called him a racial slur.![]()
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By the 1930s, Hollywood had set strict moral guidelines called the Hays Code which prohibited interracial love to be portrayed on screen. As a result, Hayakawa continued to be cast as either a villain or a “forbidden lover” since most of his costars were white women.![]()
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In 1937, Hayakawa went to France to star in a French film, but ended up being trapped in the country when World War 2 broke out. He sold watercolor paintings to financially support himself and joined the French resistance to help fight the Germans.![]()
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In 1949, Hayakawa—upon reflecting on his career—mentioned, "My one ambition is to play a hero".![]()
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He never really got that chance but did end up being nominated for best supporting actor for his role in The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) in which he plays an “honorable villain” in charge of a Japanese prison camp in Thailand. ![]()
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Upon retirement, Hayakawa became a Zen master and dedicated his life to Zen Buddhism. He died at the age of 87 in 1973.![]()
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#AAPIHeritageMonth
www.facebook.com/SmithsonianAPA/posts/pfbid0364Msn2BtXZPZvVDocYr3fNw8ZFJwoc28QzGHmsKJ7CZctuEuSk5b...🌟Today’s #AANHPI Spotlight: Soichi Sakamoto (1906-1997) ![]()
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🏊 Great American swimming coach Soichi Sakamoto spearheaded Pacific Islander integration into the sport of swimming and pioneered techniques like interval training. He is best known for founding the Three-Year Swim Club for children on Maui’s sugar plantation, with the eventual goal of competing in the Olympic Games. In only three years, Sakamoto’s swimmers began competing nationally. He went on to coach swimming at the University of Hawai’i for twenty-one years and trained many athletes throughout his career as a coach, including those who went on to compete in the Olympics! He was also an assistant coach for the U.S. Olympic Swim Team from 1952-1956.🏅 #SmithsonianAANHPI #AANHPIHeritageMonth ![]()
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Photo credit: ![]()
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of the Soichi Sakamoto Family
www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=828734835944610&set=a.360942189390546Have you ever experienced a moment of Dai-Shizen at Yosemite? Coined by Japanese American artist Chiura Obata, Dai-Shizen represents the power of the natural world to influence us in a positive way. ![]()
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After immigrating to California from Japan at age 17, Obata visited Yosemite for the first time in 1927 and discovered his passion for painting landscapes. Following this formative visit to Yosemite, Obata created a series of woodblock prints, which is considered to be one of the most significant bodies of work related to the park.![]()
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During World War II he continued to make artwork and co-founded two art schools while incarcerated in a Japanese internment camp. Despite the hardships of life as a Japanese American in the 20th Century, Obata had a long and successful career as an artist and instructor. ![]()
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Through his art and his belief in the power of bridging cultures, Obata left a significant mark on the west coast art community. Learn more about Obata’s Yosemite: goyose.org/3UIKg79![]()
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Today, thanks to the support of Conservancy donors, Obata’s art inspires generations of Yosemite visitors. Each year the Obata Art Weekend celebrates the life and art of Chiura Obata. This interactive weekend includes a wide range of activities such as art classes, yoga, park walks, and educational talks. ![]()
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If you plan to be in Yosemite August 30-31, 2024, be on the lookout for additional information about this event.![]()
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Image: El Capitan by Chiura Obata (1885 – 1975)![]()
1930, Woodblock print, ink on paper. ![]()
YOSE 109528, Courtesy of NPS
Open Letter to College and University Presidents on Student Protests | ACLU
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Academic freedom and free speech are essential. Universities must protect them.