Quiet Americans
@quietamericans.com
Uncovering Japanese American stories: History. Injustice. Resistance. Achievements. Remembering those who built, fought, and endured.
https://quietamericans.com
https://quietamericans.com
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Quiet Americans
@quietamericans.com
· Jul 13
Welcome to Quiet Americans.
We tell stories of Japanese American history — injustice, resilience, and resistance.
Inspired by Claude Akira Mimaki, a Nisei soldier who rarely spoke of his WWII incarceration or Army service, we’re here to make sure it’s heard.
quietamericans.com
We tell stories of Japanese American history — injustice, resilience, and resistance.
Inspired by Claude Akira Mimaki, a Nisei soldier who rarely spoke of his WWII incarceration or Army service, we’re here to make sure it’s heard.
quietamericans.com
OTD Sept 15, 2001: Balbir Singh Sodhi, a Sikh American gas station owner in Mesa, AZ, was murdered four days after 9/11 by a man who wanted to “shoot some towel-heads.”
He’s remembered as the first hate crime killing in the attacks’ aftermath.
#QuietAmericans
He’s remembered as the first hate crime killing in the attacks’ aftermath.
#QuietAmericans
September 16, 2026 at 4:00 AM
OTD Sept 15, 2001: Balbir Singh Sodhi, a Sikh American gas station owner in Mesa, AZ, was murdered four days after 9/11 by a man who wanted to “shoot some towel-heads.”
He’s remembered as the first hate crime killing in the attacks’ aftermath.
#QuietAmericans
He’s remembered as the first hate crime killing in the attacks’ aftermath.
#QuietAmericans
OTD Sept 14, 1979: Rocky Aoki, Benihana founder and legendary daredevil, nearly died in a boating accident, ruptured aorta, lacerated liver, 10% survival odds.
The transfusions that saved him gave him Hepatitis C, which contributed to his death decades later.
The transfusions that saved him gave him Hepatitis C, which contributed to his death decades later.
September 15, 2026 at 6:45 AM
OTD Sept 14, 1979: Rocky Aoki, Benihana founder and legendary daredevil, nearly died in a boating accident, ruptured aorta, lacerated liver, 10% survival odds.
The transfusions that saved him gave him Hepatitis C, which contributed to his death decades later.
The transfusions that saved him gave him Hepatitis C, which contributed to his death decades later.
OTD Sept 14, 1917: Joyce Chen was born in Beijing. Her egg rolls sold out within an hour at her kids’ school fundraiser in 1957, launching a career that gave America “Peking Ravioli,” the flat-bottomed wok, and the first nationally syndicated cooking show hosted by a woman of color.
September 15, 2026 at 1:00 AM
OTD Sept 14, 1917: Joyce Chen was born in Beijing. Her egg rolls sold out within an hour at her kids’ school fundraiser in 1957, launching a career that gave America “Peking Ravioli,” the flat-bottomed wok, and the first nationally syndicated cooking show hosted by a woman of color.
OTD Sept 14, 1942: The U.S. reclassified all Japanese American men as 4-C enemy aliens, barring them from military service. Included future war heroes like Daniel Inouye.
They couldn’t volunteer again until Feb 1943, or be drafted until Jan 1944.
They couldn’t volunteer again until Feb 1943, or be drafted until Jan 1944.
September 14, 2026 at 6:10 PM
OTD Sept 14, 1942: The U.S. reclassified all Japanese American men as 4-C enemy aliens, barring them from military service. Included future war heroes like Daniel Inouye.
They couldn’t volunteer again until Feb 1943, or be drafted until Jan 1944.
They couldn’t volunteer again until Feb 1943, or be drafted until Jan 1944.
OTD Sept 13, 1885: Kinjirō Matsudaira was born in Pennsylvania, descended from the Tokugawa shōguns through his father.
In 1927 he became the first known Asian American mayor in the U.S. Edmonston, MD re-elected him in 1943, even as Japanese Americans were incarcerated.
In 1927 he became the first known Asian American mayor in the U.S. Edmonston, MD re-elected him in 1943, even as Japanese Americans were incarcerated.
September 13, 2026 at 10:53 PM
OTD Sept 13, 1885: Kinjirō Matsudaira was born in Pennsylvania, descended from the Tokugawa shōguns through his father.
In 1927 he became the first known Asian American mayor in the U.S. Edmonston, MD re-elected him in 1943, even as Japanese Americans were incarcerated.
In 1927 he became the first known Asian American mayor in the U.S. Edmonston, MD re-elected him in 1943, even as Japanese Americans were incarcerated.
Before she broke barriers, the camp broke her life.
Before Mabel Ōta, born OTD Sept 13, 1916, became the first female Asian American principal in California, the incarceration camp killed her father and left her daughter with permanent brain damage.
quietamericans.com/mabel-ota
Before Mabel Ōta, born OTD Sept 13, 1916, became the first female Asian American principal in California, the incarceration camp killed her father and left her daughter with permanent brain damage.
quietamericans.com/mabel-ota
September 13, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Before she broke barriers, the camp broke her life.
Before Mabel Ōta, born OTD Sept 13, 1916, became the first female Asian American principal in California, the incarceration camp killed her father and left her daughter with permanent brain damage.
quietamericans.com/mabel-ota
Before Mabel Ōta, born OTD Sept 13, 1916, became the first female Asian American principal in California, the incarceration camp killed her father and left her daughter with permanent brain damage.
quietamericans.com/mabel-ota
September 11, 1942, the Topaz camp opened in Utah, incarcerating over 9,000 Japanese Americans in unfinished barracks with no furniture or sanitation.
It’s where Fred Korematsu and Mitsuye Endo made history.
And where James Wakasa was shot by a guard.
quietamericans.com/topaz
It’s where Fred Korematsu and Mitsuye Endo made history.
And where James Wakasa was shot by a guard.
quietamericans.com/topaz
September 12, 2026 at 4:00 AM
September 11, 1942, the Topaz camp opened in Utah, incarcerating over 9,000 Japanese Americans in unfinished barracks with no furniture or sanitation.
It’s where Fred Korematsu and Mitsuye Endo made history.
And where James Wakasa was shot by a guard.
quietamericans.com/topaz
It’s where Fred Korematsu and Mitsuye Endo made history.
And where James Wakasa was shot by a guard.
quietamericans.com/topaz
OTD 2001: Norman Mineta, incarcerated as a child during WWII, was the first Asian American Cabinet secretary.
On 9/11, he grounded 4,500+ planes and ordered airlines: no racial profiling of Muslim or Middle Eastern passengers. So history wouldn’t repeat.
quietamericans.com/norman-mineta/
On 9/11, he grounded 4,500+ planes and ordered airlines: no racial profiling of Muslim or Middle Eastern passengers. So history wouldn’t repeat.
quietamericans.com/norman-mineta/
September 11, 2026 at 6:10 PM
OTD 2001: Norman Mineta, incarcerated as a child during WWII, was the first Asian American Cabinet secretary.
On 9/11, he grounded 4,500+ planes and ordered airlines: no racial profiling of Muslim or Middle Eastern passengers. So history wouldn’t repeat.
quietamericans.com/norman-mineta/
On 9/11, he grounded 4,500+ planes and ordered airlines: no racial profiling of Muslim or Middle Eastern passengers. So history wouldn’t repeat.
quietamericans.com/norman-mineta/
OTD Sept 10 to 24, 1944,: Heart Mountain hosted Gila River for a 13-game baseball series over 15 days. Gila River traveled 1,170 miles from Arizona, and incarcerees paid their own way through tickets, donations, and camp jobs.
quietamericans.com/camp-all-sta...
quietamericans.com/camp-all-sta...
September 11, 2026 at 4:00 AM
OTD Sept 10 to 24, 1944,: Heart Mountain hosted Gila River for a 13-game baseball series over 15 days. Gila River traveled 1,170 miles from Arizona, and incarcerees paid their own way through tickets, donations, and camp jobs.
quietamericans.com/camp-all-sta...
quietamericans.com/camp-all-sta...
OTD Sept 9, 1942: A Japanese floatplane bombed forests near Brookings, Oregon, the only WWII air attack on U.S. soil. Rain kept it from spreading.
Pilot Nobuo Fujita later returned, gave the town his family’s ancient sword, and asked that his ashes rest there.
Pilot Nobuo Fujita later returned, gave the town his family’s ancient sword, and asked that his ashes rest there.
September 10, 2026 at 4:00 AM
OTD Sept 9, 1942: A Japanese floatplane bombed forests near Brookings, Oregon, the only WWII air attack on U.S. soil. Rain kept it from spreading.
Pilot Nobuo Fujita later returned, gave the town his family’s ancient sword, and asked that his ashes rest there.
Pilot Nobuo Fujita later returned, gave the town his family’s ancient sword, and asked that his ashes rest there.
September 7, 2021: “When Can We Go Back to America?” by Susan H. Kamei tells the story of 120,000+ Japanese Americans incarcerated during WWII through 130+ firsthand voices.
Buy: susanhkamei.com
More: quietamericans.com
#AAPIHistory #WWII
Buy: susanhkamei.com
More: quietamericans.com
#AAPIHistory #WWII
September 8, 2026 at 3:00 AM
September 7, 2021: “When Can We Go Back to America?” by Susan H. Kamei tells the story of 120,000+ Japanese Americans incarcerated during WWII through 130+ firsthand voices.
Buy: susanhkamei.com
More: quietamericans.com
#AAPIHistory #WWII
Buy: susanhkamei.com
More: quietamericans.com
#AAPIHistory #WWII
September 7, 1924: Daniel K. Inouye was born in Honolulu.
In 1945, he lost his right arm destroying machine gun nests with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. He spent nearly 50 years in the Senate after, fighting for redress.
quietamericans.com/daniel-inouye/
In 1945, he lost his right arm destroying machine gun nests with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. He spent nearly 50 years in the Senate after, fighting for redress.
quietamericans.com/daniel-inouye/
September 8, 2026 at 1:00 AM
September 7, 1924: Daniel K. Inouye was born in Honolulu.
In 1945, he lost his right arm destroying machine gun nests with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. He spent nearly 50 years in the Senate after, fighting for redress.
quietamericans.com/daniel-inouye/
In 1945, he lost his right arm destroying machine gun nests with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. He spent nearly 50 years in the Senate after, fighting for redress.
quietamericans.com/daniel-inouye/
September 5, 1945: Iva Toguri D’Aquino was arrested in Yokohama, suspected of being wartime radio personality Tokyo Rose.
The problem: Tokyo Rose wasn’t a real person, just a name GIs gave to several broadcasters. She was convicted anyway.
quietamericans.com/tokyo-rose/
The problem: Tokyo Rose wasn’t a real person, just a name GIs gave to several broadcasters. She was convicted anyway.
quietamericans.com/tokyo-rose/
September 6, 2026 at 12:00 AM
September 5, 1945: Iva Toguri D’Aquino was arrested in Yokohama, suspected of being wartime radio personality Tokyo Rose.
The problem: Tokyo Rose wasn’t a real person, just a name GIs gave to several broadcasters. She was convicted anyway.
quietamericans.com/tokyo-rose/
The problem: Tokyo Rose wasn’t a real person, just a name GIs gave to several broadcasters. She was convicted anyway.
quietamericans.com/tokyo-rose/
September 4, 1907: A mob of 400 to 500 white workers drove roughly 250 South Asian mill workers out of Bellingham, WA.
Days later, the group behind it renamed itself the Asiatic Exclusion League, broadening its target. Not the city’s first expulsion, or its last.
#QuietAmericans
Days later, the group behind it renamed itself the Asiatic Exclusion League, broadening its target. Not the city’s first expulsion, or its last.
#QuietAmericans
September 5, 2026 at 4:00 AM
September 4, 1907: A mob of 400 to 500 white workers drove roughly 250 South Asian mill workers out of Bellingham, WA.
Days later, the group behind it renamed itself the Asiatic Exclusion League, broadening its target. Not the city’s first expulsion, or its last.
#QuietAmericans
Days later, the group behind it renamed itself the Asiatic Exclusion League, broadening its target. Not the city’s first expulsion, or its last.
#QuietAmericans
September 3, 1977: Sadaharu Oh hit his 756th career home run, surpassing Hank Aaron’s record of 755.
Oh was born in Tokyo to a Taiwanese father, although he was never a Japanese citizen. Aaron flew to Tokyo two weeks later to congratulate him in person.
#QuietAmericans
Oh was born in Tokyo to a Taiwanese father, although he was never a Japanese citizen. Aaron flew to Tokyo two weeks later to congratulate him in person.
#QuietAmericans
September 4, 2026 at 4:00 AM
September 3, 1977: Sadaharu Oh hit his 756th career home run, surpassing Hank Aaron’s record of 755.
Oh was born in Tokyo to a Taiwanese father, although he was never a Japanese citizen. Aaron flew to Tokyo two weeks later to congratulate him in person.
#QuietAmericans
Oh was born in Tokyo to a Taiwanese father, although he was never a Japanese citizen. Aaron flew to Tokyo two weeks later to congratulate him in person.
#QuietAmericans
August 31, 1944: Already incarcerated by their own government during WWII, Japanese American students also faced a separate ban from Harvard, Yale, and other top schools. It took 2.5 years to undo a policy that was never about ability.
quietamericans.com/njasrc
#QuietAmericans
quietamericans.com/njasrc
#QuietAmericans
September 1, 2026 at 3:00 AM
August 31, 1944: Already incarcerated by their own government during WWII, Japanese American students also faced a separate ban from Harvard, Yale, and other top schools. It took 2.5 years to undo a policy that was never about ability.
quietamericans.com/njasrc
#QuietAmericans
quietamericans.com/njasrc
#QuietAmericans
On This Day, August 31, 1945: Journalist Leslie Nakashima’s eyewitness report from Hiroshima ran in The New York Times, censored, with most reference to radiation poisoning removed.
He was the first to report the true toll. The readers weren’t allowed to know.
quietamericans.com/leslie-nakas...
He was the first to report the true toll. The readers weren’t allowed to know.
quietamericans.com/leslie-nakas...
August 31, 2026 at 6:10 PM
On This Day, August 31, 1945: Journalist Leslie Nakashima’s eyewitness report from Hiroshima ran in The New York Times, censored, with most reference to radiation poisoning removed.
He was the first to report the true toll. The readers weren’t allowed to know.
quietamericans.com/leslie-nakas...
He was the first to report the true toll. The readers weren’t allowed to know.
quietamericans.com/leslie-nakas...
On This Day, August 30, 1904: Ruby Sakae Hirose was born in Kent, WA. She became a groundbreaking biochemist who helped pave the way for the polio vaccine, while her own family was incarcerated as “enemies.”
She spent her life saving the same country that called her family that.
#QuietAmericans
She spent her life saving the same country that called her family that.
#QuietAmericans
August 30, 2026 at 6:00 PM
On This Day, August 30, 1904: Ruby Sakae Hirose was born in Kent, WA. She became a groundbreaking biochemist who helped pave the way for the polio vaccine, while her own family was incarcerated as “enemies.”
She spent her life saving the same country that called her family that.
#QuietAmericans
She spent her life saving the same country that called her family that.
#QuietAmericans
On This Day, August 29, 1930: The first JACL National Convention was held in Seattle.
Decades later, the same organization that publicly supported Japanese American incarceration helped win reparations for it.
quietamericans.com/jacl
#QuietAmericans
Decades later, the same organization that publicly supported Japanese American incarceration helped win reparations for it.
quietamericans.com/jacl
#QuietAmericans
August 30, 2026 at 12:00 AM
On This Day, August 29, 1930: The first JACL National Convention was held in Seattle.
Decades later, the same organization that publicly supported Japanese American incarceration helped win reparations for it.
quietamericans.com/jacl
#QuietAmericans
Decades later, the same organization that publicly supported Japanese American incarceration helped win reparations for it.
quietamericans.com/jacl
#QuietAmericans
On This Day, August 28, 1996: Mochizuki v. United States was filed on behalf of Japanese Latin Americans, kidnapped from 12 Latin American countries during WWII and excluded from the Civil Liberties Act of 1988.
They got $5,000. Japanese Americans got $20,000.
quietamericans.com/japanese-lat...
They got $5,000. Japanese Americans got $20,000.
quietamericans.com/japanese-lat...
August 29, 2026 at 4:00 AM
On This Day, August 28, 1996: Mochizuki v. United States was filed on behalf of Japanese Latin Americans, kidnapped from 12 Latin American countries during WWII and excluded from the Civil Liberties Act of 1988.
They got $5,000. Japanese Americans got $20,000.
quietamericans.com/japanese-lat...
They got $5,000. Japanese Americans got $20,000.
quietamericans.com/japanese-lat...
On This Day, August 27, 1944: Staff Sgt. Kazuo Masuda of the 442nd was killed in Italy, age 25. When his body came home in 1948, a California cemetery refused to bury him. He wasn’t white.
Outrage reversed it. He was laid to rest with full military honors.
quietamericans.com/kazuo-masuda
Outrage reversed it. He was laid to rest with full military honors.
quietamericans.com/kazuo-masuda
August 28, 2026 at 4:00 AM
On This Day, August 27, 1944: Staff Sgt. Kazuo Masuda of the 442nd was killed in Italy, age 25. When his body came home in 1948, a California cemetery refused to bury him. He wasn’t white.
Outrage reversed it. He was laid to rest with full military honors.
quietamericans.com/kazuo-masuda
Outrage reversed it. He was laid to rest with full military honors.
quietamericans.com/kazuo-masuda
On This Day, August 26, 1943: Frances Kazuko Hashimoto was born inside the Poston War Relocation Center in Arizona during World War II.
She grew up to perfect mochi ice cream, now found in freezers across America.
#QuietAmericans
She grew up to perfect mochi ice cream, now found in freezers across America.
#QuietAmericans
August 27, 2026 at 4:00 AM
On This Day, August 26, 1943: Frances Kazuko Hashimoto was born inside the Poston War Relocation Center in Arizona during World War II.
She grew up to perfect mochi ice cream, now found in freezers across America.
#QuietAmericans
She grew up to perfect mochi ice cream, now found in freezers across America.
#QuietAmericans
America barely noticed the first Asian-American solo artist at Motown. But great artists certainly did.
Aug. 25, 1947: Suzee Ikeda was born. Better known as a producer for artists like Michael Jackson and The Temptations, she was Motown’s first Asian-American solo act.
#SuzeeIkeda
Aug. 25, 1947: Suzee Ikeda was born. Better known as a producer for artists like Michael Jackson and The Temptations, she was Motown’s first Asian-American solo act.
#SuzeeIkeda
August 26, 2026 at 4:00 AM
America barely noticed the first Asian-American solo artist at Motown. But great artists certainly did.
Aug. 25, 1947: Suzee Ikeda was born. Better known as a producer for artists like Michael Jackson and The Temptations, she was Motown’s first Asian-American solo act.
#SuzeeIkeda
Aug. 25, 1947: Suzee Ikeda was born. Better known as a producer for artists like Michael Jackson and The Temptations, she was Motown’s first Asian-American solo act.
#SuzeeIkeda
One of the greatest basketball players of all time was named after a Japanese beef.
Aug. 23, 1978: Kobe Bean Bryant was born. His dad saw “Kobe beef” on a restaurant menu and loved the sound of it.
#QuietAmericans #KobeBryant
Aug. 23, 1978: Kobe Bean Bryant was born. His dad saw “Kobe beef” on a restaurant menu and loved the sound of it.
#QuietAmericans #KobeBryant
August 23, 2026 at 10:53 PM
One of the greatest basketball players of all time was named after a Japanese beef.
Aug. 23, 1978: Kobe Bean Bryant was born. His dad saw “Kobe beef” on a restaurant menu and loved the sound of it.
#QuietAmericans #KobeBryant
Aug. 23, 1978: Kobe Bean Bryant was born. His dad saw “Kobe beef” on a restaurant menu and loved the sound of it.
#QuietAmericans #KobeBryant
Aug. 23, 1921: Hisaye Yamamoto was born. In her story Seventeen Syllables, a daughter’s struggle to understand her mother’s haiku becomes a struggle to understand her mother’s life.
Her stories gave voice to experiences that didn't have one before.
#QuietAmericans #Haiku
Her stories gave voice to experiences that didn't have one before.
#QuietAmericans #Haiku
August 23, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Aug. 23, 1921: Hisaye Yamamoto was born. In her story Seventeen Syllables, a daughter’s struggle to understand her mother’s haiku becomes a struggle to understand her mother’s life.
Her stories gave voice to experiences that didn't have one before.
#QuietAmericans #Haiku
Her stories gave voice to experiences that didn't have one before.
#QuietAmericans #Haiku