NCRR is pleased to honor eight Japanese Americans who were willing to sue the U.S. government for reparations and one redress advocate who helped countless applicants at her community center receive redress.

Each of the following redress litigants had applied for but was denied reparations in the early 1990's because of the Department of Justice's strict interpretation of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. The eight worked closely with several lawyers who volunteered their time to bring justice to those denied reparations. Although only one of the litigants has thus far successfully won redress through the courts, NCRR is hopeful that the others, and the categories of people that they represent, will ultimately obtain redress through the Campaign for Justice's push for legislation in Congress.

1. Carol Higashi was born February 6, 1945 less than three weeks after the eligibility cutoff birth date of January 20, 1945. Ironically, because her father couldn't earn a living outside of camp Carol's family returned to Tule Lake after her birth and remained at Tule Lake until July 21,1945.

2. Wendy Hirota, whose father was subjected to an individual exclusion order and could not return to the West Coast, was born in Colorado after the January 20th cutoff date.

3. Kay Kato, a lawful resident of San Francisco on a renewable merchant visa, was interned at Rohwer, Arkansas with his wife and son. Despite his imprisonment with other Japanese Americans, he was denied redress because of his lack of permanent  residency status.

4. Robert Murakami was born one month after his father's individual exclusion order was lifted in July 1945.

5. The four members of the Ogura Family were kidnapped from their home in Peru and brought to Crystal City, Texas by the U.S. government. Unable to return to Peru they settled in Japan where they still live.

6. Henry Shima was forcibly removed from Peru by the U.S. government and held at Crystal City,Texas. Like other Japanese Latin Americans he was to be used in exchanges for American citizens captured by Japan.

7. Carole Song was born in New Jersey after the January 20,1945 cutoff date. She received a favorable ruling from the court in Song v US because her parents, who worked at Seabrook Farms, had not received adequate notice that they could return to their West Coast home.

8. Jane Yano was born in the Department of Justice Internment Camp at Crystal City, Texas in 1947. Although an internee, she was born after the June 30,1946 eligibility date established by the Civil Liberties Act (Crystal City Internment Camp remained open until 1948).

Senior Advocate Janet Saisho worked tirelessly on behalf of redress applicants who came to the San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center for help. She corresponded with the Office of Redress Administration, traveled to Washington, DC and lobbied California's senators on behalf of Mr. Kay Kato and others who were denied redress.