[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 8, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E163]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING JIMI YAMAICHI

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL M. HONDA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 8, 2012

  Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with Representative Zoe Lofgren 
to honor Mr. Jimi Yamaichi. On November 3, 2011, Mr. Yamaichi was 
awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays, from the 
Government of Japan. Mr. Yamaichi is being recognized for his 
contributions to Japan-U.S. relations arising from decades of community 
involvement. On February 24, 2012, the Consul General of Japan in San 
Francisco, Hiroshi Inomata, will present Mr. Yamaichi with this 
distinguished award.
  Mr. Yamaichi grew up on his family owned farm in San Jose, California 
during the Great Depression era. As a young student, Mr. Yamaichi 
dreamed of becoming a carpenter. However, racism within the carpenter's 
union and the outbreak of World War II postponed that dream. With the 
signing of Executive Order 9066, Mr. Yamaichi and his family were 
forcibly removed from their home to the Pomona Assembly Center, then to 
the internment camps at Heart Mountain in Wyoming and at Tule Lake in 
California. While at Tule Lake, he oversaw building projects as the 
camp construction manager. After the war ended, Mr. Yamaichi doggedly 
pursued union membership, which he was finally granted.
  With his experience in the internment camps and as a carpenter, Mr. 
Yamaichi has turned his attention towards memorializing the experiences 
of Japanese Americans. Over the years, he has served on a variety of 
boards and committees in San Jose's Japantown. Currently, he leads the 
effort to restore the Tule Lake Relocation Center in addition to 
leading biannual pilgrimages to the internment camp. Through the 
restoration and pilgrimages to Tule Lake, Mr. Yamaichi shares the harsh 
reality of life in internment. Driven by the desire to tell the story 
of Japanese Americans, Mr. Yamaichi became a charter member of the 
Japanese American Museum of San Jose. As the curator of the Japanese 
American Museum of San Jose, he has managed projects and played a key 
role in the construction of the new museum. One of the key exhibits is 
the replica of the camp barracks, complete with artifacts found at Tule 
Lake.
  Mr. Yamaichi's lifelong work to preserve Japanese American history 
was recognized by the Government of Japan in the 2011 Conferment of 
Decoration. Mr. Yamaichi is receiving the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold 
and Silver Rays, for his work in Santa Clara County.
  Mr. Speaker, we commend Mr. Jimi Yamaichi for his years of dedication 
and commitment to Santa Clara County and the Japanese American 
community. His contributions ensure that Japanese Americans' 
experiences of persecution will never be forgotten.

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