VC JACL SCholarships
The Dr. Tom Taketa Memorial Scholarship
Dr. Tom Taketa was born on Aug 26, 1910. He married Shizuko Marilyn Matsumoto in 1941. They had 2 sons, Robert, born in 1944 and John, born in 1948.
Dr. Tom was in the U.S. Army Medical Corps which took them to the Pacific and Atlantic coasts. The consequence of this job spared them being incarcerated as most Japanese in the USA were in camps in 1942.
In 1949, Dr. Tom started his medical practice in Oxnard. Two of his patients who later became his friends were Harry and Janet Kajihara.
Dr. Tom Taketa and his wife Shizuko were early contributors to our scholarship fund. In 2001, he presented our chapter a generous donation that still benefits qualified high school seniors in 2023.
Dr. Tom passed away on June 17, 2004 in Oxnard but his legacy remains firmly intact with our chapter.
Dr. Tom Taketa and his wife, Shizuko. Cate Kuniyoshi, president of our chapter in 2001,
standing on the right. The scholarship winner, Michael Morimoto, with his parents
standing on the left.
Dr. Tom Taketa was born on Aug 26, 1910. He married Shizuko Marilyn Matsumoto in 1941. They had 2 sons, Robert, born in 1944 and John, born in 1948.
Dr. Tom was in the U.S. Army Medical Corps which took them to the Pacific and Atlantic coasts. The consequence of this job spared them being incarcerated as most Japanese in the USA were in camps in 1942.
In 1949, Dr. Tom started his medical practice in Oxnard. Two of his patients who later became his friends were Harry and Janet Kajihara.
Dr. Tom Taketa and his wife Shizuko were early contributors to our scholarship fund. In 2001, he presented our chapter a generous donation that still benefits qualified high school seniors in 2023.
Dr. Tom passed away on June 17, 2004 in Oxnard but his legacy remains firmly intact with our chapter.
Dr. Tom Taketa and his wife, Shizuko. Cate Kuniyoshi, president of our chapter in 2001,
standing on the right. The scholarship winner, Michael Morimoto, with his parents
standing on the left.
The Yoshiro “Yosh” Katsura Memorial Scholarship
Yosh was a fine, intelligent, and honorable man who was loved and respected by many people of various ages. He was unassuming and very modest.
Yosh was born in Berkeley, the son of Japanese immigrants (his mother was a picture bride). During WWII he and his family were interned at Topaz, Utah for over 4 years and returned to Berkeley without bitterness.
In high school Yosh participated in student body government and was the student body president in his senior year. He was the captain of the football team and was a diving champion. While in college he played rugby.
He graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in engineering. He was a life long professional civil engineer who specialized in environmental engineering, particularly water treatment facilities. He wanted clean water for the whole world.
He believed that education is very important and that students should be supported and encouraged in their efforts.
Yosh was a fine, intelligent, and honorable man who was loved and respected by many people of various ages. He was unassuming and very modest.
Yosh was born in Berkeley, the son of Japanese immigrants (his mother was a picture bride). During WWII he and his family were interned at Topaz, Utah for over 4 years and returned to Berkeley without bitterness.
In high school Yosh participated in student body government and was the student body president in his senior year. He was the captain of the football team and was a diving champion. While in college he played rugby.
He graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in engineering. He was a life long professional civil engineer who specialized in environmental engineering, particularly water treatment facilities. He wanted clean water for the whole world.
He believed that education is very important and that students should be supported and encouraged in their efforts.
The Hitoshi "Harry" Kajihara Memorial Scholarship
Ken Inouye, past national president of the JACL, once stated, “Harry Kajihara is the considered the ‘Father of Redress.’ A former JACL national president and a long-time resident of Ventura County, Harry Kajihara was part of the core group of JACLers who particularly in the 1980s worked to organize the Japanese American community to urge Congress to pass what would later become the 1988 Civil Liberties Act. This act provided an apology and reparations to members of the Japanese American community who were incarcerated by the U.S. government during World War II.”
Kajihara was a Nisei born on March 12, 1928 in Oyster Bay, Wash., as the son of a fisherman. In 1941, at age 13, he was president at his school and played shortstop before he and his family were incarcerated at Tule Lake. His family’s radio and camera were considered contraband and confiscated.
After the war, he worked as a civilian engineer for the military and later, as a professor of engineering and mathematics at Ventura College.
As stated by The Los Angeles Times, “In 1980, Kajihara reactivated the long-dormant Ventura County chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League with the hope of rallying local support for compensating internees. He then embarked on the fundraising that absorbed him until his election as national president.”
Kajihara, along with Japanese American members of Congress, was pictured with President Ronald Reagan when he signed the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 on Aug. 10 of that year.
Kajihara passed away on Dec. 3, 2019. Survivors include his wife, Itsuko Janet Kajihara; three daughters, Claudia Kajihara, Julia Miyamoto, and Alicia Mashiko; sons-in-law, Alan Miyamoto and Kenji Mashiko; five grandchildren, Kevin, Kimberly and Kari Miyamoto and Richard and Mitchell Mashiko. A memorial service was held on Jan. 11, 2020, at Oxnard Buddhist Temple.
Ken Inouye, past national president of the JACL, once stated, “Harry Kajihara is the considered the ‘Father of Redress.’ A former JACL national president and a long-time resident of Ventura County, Harry Kajihara was part of the core group of JACLers who particularly in the 1980s worked to organize the Japanese American community to urge Congress to pass what would later become the 1988 Civil Liberties Act. This act provided an apology and reparations to members of the Japanese American community who were incarcerated by the U.S. government during World War II.”
Kajihara was a Nisei born on March 12, 1928 in Oyster Bay, Wash., as the son of a fisherman. In 1941, at age 13, he was president at his school and played shortstop before he and his family were incarcerated at Tule Lake. His family’s radio and camera were considered contraband and confiscated.
After the war, he worked as a civilian engineer for the military and later, as a professor of engineering and mathematics at Ventura College.
As stated by The Los Angeles Times, “In 1980, Kajihara reactivated the long-dormant Ventura County chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League with the hope of rallying local support for compensating internees. He then embarked on the fundraising that absorbed him until his election as national president.”
Kajihara, along with Japanese American members of Congress, was pictured with President Ronald Reagan when he signed the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 on Aug. 10 of that year.
Kajihara passed away on Dec. 3, 2019. Survivors include his wife, Itsuko Janet Kajihara; three daughters, Claudia Kajihara, Julia Miyamoto, and Alicia Mashiko; sons-in-law, Alan Miyamoto and Kenji Mashiko; five grandchildren, Kevin, Kimberly and Kari Miyamoto and Richard and Mitchell Mashiko. A memorial service was held on Jan. 11, 2020, at Oxnard Buddhist Temple.
Interested in donating to our scholarship program?
Please email us at [email protected] if you are interested in donating to our scholarship fund or creating a named scholarship in honor of yourself or a loved one. We work hard to support our local students in their academic endeavors and your support is always welcome.
2023 Scholars:
We are proud to announce our 2023 scholars are:
The Hitoshi "Harry" Kajihara Memorial Scholarship:
Kirin Nakagawa (Westlake High School)
The Yoshiro "Yosh" Katsura Memorial Scholarship
Avrey Tokuyama (Westlake High School)
Dr. Tom Taketa Memorial Scholarship:
Kealani Kirby (Thousand Oaks High School)
The Hitoshi "Harry" Kajihara Memorial Scholarship:
Kirin Nakagawa (Westlake High School)
The Yoshiro "Yosh" Katsura Memorial Scholarship
Avrey Tokuyama (Westlake High School)
Dr. Tom Taketa Memorial Scholarship:
Kealani Kirby (Thousand Oaks High School)
JACL National Scholarships
For high school and college students who are currently active members of JACL, you there are also opportunities to apply for the JACL national scholarships. Please note that this year's scholarships are now open and due either MARCH 6, 2023 or APRIL 3, 2023 (depending on whether you are an entering freshman or continuing college student).
