He didn’t stay silent, but his actions spoke even louder.
October 1, 1927: Hiroshi Kamei, one of the key figures in the Japanese American civil rights movement and a quiet mentor to many, was born in Gardena, California.
Hiroshi Kamei was born to a Japanese immigrant farming family and spent his early years on rented farmland in Orange County, California. Because of alien land laws, they could only secure short-term leases, but they worked hard to build a life of stability.
During WWII, everything changed. The Kameis were forcibly removed and incarcerated in Poston, Arizona.
Hiroshi later called losing their farm and standing crops “the greatest financial loss of our lives.” Forced to sell everything in days, the family received just a fraction of each item’s worth from their neighbors, who took advantage of their situation. What the family tried to store were either stolen or destroyed.
Even their celery crop was part of the injustice. Prices plummeted to 25 cents a crate before exclusion, then jumped back to $5 or $6 after they were gone. Those who took over the land profited handsomely. The market, Hiroshi believed, had been manipulated.
It Was Hard to Study Hard
Despite being a straight-A student at Huntington Union High School, Hiroshi couldn’t graduate there. He continued studying at Poston, but the camp’s high school wasn’t accredited. As a result, colleges wouldn’t accept his diploma.
With help from Quaker advocates, Hiroshi was admitted to Iowa State College — only to be drafted after just one semester. The government refused to defer his service. Only after completing his military duty could he return home and finish his education.
He eventually earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Caltech and built a career in mechanical and chemical engineering. But the trauma of war and incarceration remained underneath the surface.
A New Voice for Redress
Like many Nisei, Hiroshi didn’t dwell on what had happened. But as the redress movement gained momentum, he knew it was time to share the truth.
He began opening up — especially to his daughter, Susan.
“We were destitute. We had lost everything,” she recalled him saying. “We didn’t have any ability to get any help or advice.”
That moment of honesty sparked something bigger. Susan Kamei would go on to become a lawyer and a redress advocate. Her father’s story became part of her purpose. She later led extensive research at the National Archives, helping to share the voices Hiroshi once encouraged her to share.
The Courage to Speak
When he testified before the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians (CWRIC), he gave voice to the damage done:
- The devastating “garage sale,” where former friends took advantage of the family’s forced departure.
- The loss of their standing crops, and the markets manipulated in their absence.
- The long, obstructed path to higher education.
Each story helped build the case for formal government apology and reparations. Hiroshi led by example — showing that speaking out could make a difference.
A Legacy That Endures
Hiroshi Kamei helped found or support many Japanese American organizations and clubs in Orange County. He served three terms as president of the SELANOCO JACL chapter.
He passed away on March 30, 2007. But his legacy lives on — not just in redress policy, but in the lives he touched.
In family. In courage. And in the choice to speak up.
