[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 20]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 27567-27568]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                       TRIBUTE TO REIKO KAWAKAMI

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT T. MATSUI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 18, 2001

  Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in tribute to Reiko Kawakami, my dear 
friend and a most loyal and dependable staff member for the last 
twenty-three years. As her friends and family gather to celebrate 
Reiko's wonderful career, I ask all of my colleagues to join with me in 
saluting one of Sacramento's finest citizens.
  The youngest child of George and Ann Kashiwada, Reiko was born in 
Sacramento on July 8th, 1941. As a youngster in midtown Sacramento, 
where her parents owned a neighborhood market, Reiko demonstrated her 
trademark responsibility at a very early age. Reiko and her sister 
Ellen assumed the task of making sure that things were in order at 
home. Reiko would often prepare meals and perform various household 
chores when her parents were busy tending to the family business.
  When World War II broke out, Reiko and her family were sent away to 
the Tule Lake Internment Camp. During the internment, Reiko first 
demonstrated her gregarious nature and agreeable personality by 
socializing and playing with the other children in the camp. In the 
years since the internment, Reiko has remained open to share her 
experience with others. Reiko has been a clear and thoughtful

[[Page 27568]]

voice in educating the people of Sacramento about the Japanese American 
internment experience.
  After the internment and a two-year stay in Denver, Colorado, Reiko 
and her family returned to Sacramento in 1948. It was during my early 
years at William Land Park Elementary School that I began my lifelong 
friendship with Reiko. While at McClatchy High School, Reiko caught the 
eye of Hachi Kawakami. Although a school boundary change forced Reiko 
to finish her senior year at Sacramento High School, Reiko and Hachi's 
romance continued and they were soon married after Reiko's graduation 
from high school in 1958.
  For the next two decades, Reiko devoted her energy to raising her 
five wonderful children; Deann, Cynthia, Mark, Susan, and John. While 
most people would rest on their laurels and look for less demanding 
pursuits after raising five children, Reiko decided that she was ready 
to embrace another challenge by starting a career. After serving as a 
tireless volunteer on my first congressional campaign, Reiko took on 
the position as my first district Staff Assistant.
  Many things have changed about our world since Reiko first assumed 
the position of Staff Assistant in my district office in January of 
1979. We have seen five different occupants of the White House, the 
fall of the former Soviet Union, and the rise of the information 
superhighway. But, one thing has always remained constant in my office 
over the past twenty-three years; Reiko has been a stalwart part of 
ensuring that business in my office is handled professionally and in 
the proper manner. Reiko has truly been the epitome of a leader through 
example to her peers from Sacramento to Washington, DC over the years. 
For that, I will always be grateful for her twenty-three years of 
unparalleled service and life long friendship.
  Although Reiko's professional career may be coming to an end, she 
certainly has much to look forward to in her retirement years. In 
addition to her five children and their spouses, Reiko can look forward 
to taking an active role in the lives of her lovely grandchildren; 
Nicole, Rachelle, Jordan, Dylan, Brett, and Taylor. Relko and Hachi can 
also look forward to pursuing their dream to travel to fun and exciting 
places in their leisure time.
  Mr. Speaker, as Ms. Reiko Kawakami's friends and family gather to 
celebrate and honor her illustrious twenty-three year career I am 
honored to pay tribute to one of my dearest friends. Her contributions 
to my office and the citizens of Sacramento are unparalleled and her 
friendship is invaluable, and it is a great honor for me to have the 
opportunity to pay tribute to her. I ask all my colleagues to join with 
me in celebrating the lifetime of this extraordinary person.

                          ____________________