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Washington, DC. Following his visit to the National Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism the day before, Japan Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa was briefed on the Nikkei experience during and after World War II

The nearly one hour briefing was arranged by Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki, who accompanied Minister Kitazawa to the Memorial and who introduced him to Japanese American Veterans Association (JAVA) President Gerald Yamada, JAVA Executive Director Terry Shima, and JAVA Executive Board Member Grant Ichikawa.

The briefing was held in a private room in the Willard Intercontinental Hotel in Washington, DC. Minister Kitazawa was in Washington, DC for high level discussions on security issues with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and, also, with Secretary of State Hilary Clinton.

Minister Kitazawa conveyed Japan’s appreciation to the government and people of America for their steadfast support of Japan during its recent earthquake and tsunami disaster, reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to the US – Japan alliance, and expressed the hope that the cordial relationship between the government and people of Japan and the Nikkei population would endure. He said that JAVA’s briefing of Japanese officials visiting Washington, DC, contributed to their understanding of the Japanese American role in the American society. Yamada said he appreciates the Defense Ministry’s interest in the Nikkei situation and Ambassador Fujisaki’s lead in reaching out to the ethnic Japanese community throughout America.

Kitazawa, 73, is a native of Nagano Prefecture, graduate of Waseda University and is a member of the House of Councilors (upper house) since 1992. He was appointed Minister of Defense in 2009, when the DPJ (Democratic Party of Japan) assumed power.

Yamada’s briefing covered Japanese migration to the United States, discrimination against ethnic Japanese, the effects of the Pearl Harbor attack and the internment of ethnic Japanese for the duration of the war.

Shima discussed the origin and combat engagements of the 100^th Battalion and the 442^nd Regimental Combat Team, the Nisei success in settling the question of loyalty, and the post Vietnam War Nikkei competition for positions and rank. Ichikawa discussed his experience in the internment camp and his voluntary enlistment in the Military Intelligence Service (MIS), the role of the MIS during the war and the Occupation of Japan.

Yamada closed the briefing by discussing JAVA’s mission to educate the American public, especially through teachers training and speaking at schools, including secondary and college levels.