On February 19th, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which authorized the forced relocation and incarceration of over 120,000 Japanese-Americans living on the West Coast of the United States. By May 18th, 1941, the Japanese-American residents of King County were instructed to pack just a few essentials, evacuate their homes, and await further instructions.

 

As the war unfolded, Bellevue High School, like many others, felt the impact of this order. Despite their commitment to their studies and community, Japanese-American students were omitted from yearbooks and graduation ceremonies. Their achievements and contributions were marginalized, and their families were unjustly torn from their homes. Superintendent Dr. Aramaki noted that his great aunt, Eve, had grades up to Q3 of her Junior Year at Bellevue High, and then nothing.  

 

On Saturday, September 30th, 2023, Bellevue High School took significant steps to right this historical wrong, inspired by the archival research and documentation done by World History teacher Carol Schmidt. The school organized a special recognition ceremony to honor the Japanese-American students who were affected by Executive Order 9066. This heartfelt event aimed to acknowledge their sacrifices and celebrate their accomplishments. The recognition ceremony garnered immense support from the local community, alumni, and families of those who were affected. It serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of acknowledging past injustices and working toward reconciliation. In attendance were Bellevue School District Superintendent Dr. Aramaki, Woodridge student speaker Ethan Shen, BHS graduate (class of ’85) Carey Oshima, and Acting Consul General of Japan, Mr. Junichi Sumi.

 

Dr. Aramaki shared family photos of his ancestor’s farms, which depict rows and rows of greenhouses situated about where Whole Foods and The Crab Pot sit today. He highlighted that his grandfather’s second-grade schoolteacher, Mrs. Bondsguard, kept an eye on the Aramaki Farm, ensuring the taxes were filed and paid and the land stayed in the Aramaki's hands during their incarceration. Ethan Shen, a fourth-grade student at Woodridge and fifth-generation Japanese-American, talked about his own family’s experience. His ancestors could only bring what they could carry, and then the family was split up and moved by train to camps in Tulle Lake, CA, and Idaho.

 

Acting Consul General Mr. Sumi spoke of the rich Japanese-American history in Seattle. Mr. Sumi comes from Izumo, Shimane prefecture, where activist Genji Mihara moved from in 1907. Mr. Mihara was a goodwill ambassador who moved to Seattle when he was 17 years old. Upon settling in the area, he opened the Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Washington (JCCCW), devoting his life to helping other Japanese ex-pats thrive in their new home in the Pacific Northwest. Mr. Mihara founded the first Japanese-American school and created traditional housing and job outreach for detainees in the aftermath of World War II. His impact on the area can still be felt, with the rich legacy captured in the archives of the JCCCW, which still operates as the cornerstone of the Japanese-American community here.

 

Bellevue High School's recognition ceremony for Japanese-American students affected by Executive Order 9066 is a powerful testament to the resilience of individuals and communities in the face of adversity. It serves as a reminder that acknowledging historical injustices and taking steps toward reconciliation is vital for a just and inclusive society. Susan Ishii-Yin and Naomi Okubo presented Dr. Aramaki with a plaque commemorating all 37 students overlooked during their incarceration. This memorial can be found in the Bellevue High School Library. In honoring these forgotten heroes, Bellevue High School demonstrates the importance of learning from the past to heal old wounds and build a better future, together as one beloved community.

 

Jane Hayashi

Fuyuko Kamihara

Kaz Kamihara

Mary Masunaga

Matsuzawa Roy

Mae Morioka

Amy Sakaguchi

Bill Takano

Yoneko Yoshimoto

Kenji Yoshino

 

Chiyeko Ito  

Eva Aramaki

W  Sorakubo 

Will Kodani 

Knox Nomura

Chiyo Takeshita

Leo Hayashi

Hakaru Yoshino

 

Betty Kamihara

Keiji Yamagiwa

Hatsuye Miyamoto

Takahashi

Miyuki Mizokawa

Fumiye Masunaga

Mitsue Suguro

Lily Morioka

 

Thomas Hayashi

Kiko Kawakami

Yasako Mary Kodani

Shizu Yoshino

James Takano

Aezo Masunage

Haruko Takeshita

Kimie Shimogaki

Maye Suguro

Dorothy Nomura

Rae Matsuoka