Hiroshi Kashiwagi
Encyclopedia
Hiroshi Kashiwagi is a Nisei
(second-generation Japanese American
) poet, playwright and actor. For his writing and performance work on stage he is considered an early pioneer of Asian American theatre
.
, California. He grew up in Loomis
, a small fruit-growing town in Placer County, California
, where his Issei
parents ran a fish market. He attended Loomis Elementary school, Placer High School and Dorsey High School in Los Angeles, graduating in 1940. He also attended Japanese language school, where he did his first writing and performing.
During World War II
, Kashiwagi and his family were sent to the Tule Lake War Relocation Center
, an internment camp for Japanese Americans
. In camp, Kashiwagi spent time reading, and joined a theatre group. When the U.S. government forced detainees to fill out a Leave Clearance Application Form, commonly known as a the "loyalty questionnaire," Kashiwagi refused to answer the infamous questions 27 & 28, key questions which asked internees, after a year of unjustified incarceration, if they were willing to swear unqualified allegiance to, and serve in the military for, the same government that had forced them into the camps in violation of the constitutional rights, and, if they were willing to forswear allegiance to Japan, thereby admitting an allegiance to the enemy. Unable to answer "yes-yes," to the two questions, the government took Kashiwagi's refusal to reply as a "no-no," and he was branded a No-No Boy
, and he and his family were segregated by the government as "disloyals" and were ostracized by the Japanese American community. Through government coercion, Kashiwagi and others at Tule Lake renounced their U.S. citizenship.
After the end of World War II, Kashiwagi attended UCLA. He wrote his first play in 1949 for the Nisei Experimental Group, a theatre group formed in Los Angeles. His one-act play, THE PLUMS CAN WAIT, was first performed in Los Angeles in 1950, and in San Francisco and Berkeley the following year. He graduated from UCLA, receiving a B.A. in Oriental Languages in 1952.
In 1959, with the help of attorney Wayne Collins
, Kashiwagi had his United States citizenship restored. Kashiwagi would later dedicate his book Swimming in the American: a Memoir and Selected Writings to Collins, "who rescued me as an American and restored my faith in America."
In 1966, Kashiwagi graduated from UC Berkeley, receiving a Masters in Library Science degree.
Kashiwagi worked at the Buddhist headquarters in San Francisco for almost eight years as a translator and interpreter, English secretary and editor. He also was employed at the San Francisco Public Library
as a reference librarian in literature, Japanese language materials, science and government documents, and as a branch manager. At the Western Addition Branch Library, he started what became the largest collection of Japanese language books on the West Coast. He retired after 20 years in 1987, when he was cast in Philip Kan Gotanda
's play, The Wash at the Eureka Theatre.
Kashiwagi appeared in several films, including Black Rain, directed by Ridley Scott
, and Hito Hata: Raise the Banner produced by Visual Communications
.
He resides in San Francisco, California with his wife and has three grown sons, including playwright Soji Kashiwagi
, leader of the Japanese American
theatre troupe, the Grateful Crane Ensemble
. Kashiwagi is a member of Dramatists Guild
and Screen Actors Guild
.
Nisei
During the early years of World War II, Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated from their homes in the Pacific coast states because military leaders and public opinion combined to fan unproven fears of sabotage...
(second-generation Japanese American
Japanese American
are American people of Japanese heritage. Japanese Americans have historically been among the three largest Asian American communities, but in recent decades have become the sixth largest group at roughly 1,204,205, including those of mixed-race or mixed-ethnicity...
) poet, playwright and actor. For his writing and performance work on stage he is considered an early pioneer of Asian American theatre
Asian American theatre
Asian American theater is theater written, directed or acted by Asian Americans.- Background :Asian American theater emerged in the 1960s and the 1970s with the foundation of four theatre companies: East West Players in Los Angeles, Asian American Theatre Workshop in San Francisco, Theatrical...
.
Biography
Kashiwagi was born in 1922 in SacramentoSacramento
Sacramento is the capital of the state of California, in the United States of America.Sacramento may also refer to:- United States :*Sacramento County, California*Sacramento, Kentucky*Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta...
, California. He grew up in Loomis
Loomis, California
Loomis is an incorporated town in Placer County, California, United States. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, a small fruit-growing town in Placer County, California
Placer County, California
Placer County is a county located in both the Sacramento Valley and Sierra Nevada regions of the U.S. state of California, in what is known as the Gold Country. It stretches from the suburbs of Sacramento to Lake Tahoe and the Nevada border. Because of the expansion of the Greater Sacramento,...
, where his Issei
Issei
Issei is a Japanese language term used in countries in North America, South America and Australia to specify the Japanese people first to immigrate. Their children born in the new country are referred to as Nisei , and their grandchildren are Sansei...
parents ran a fish market. He attended Loomis Elementary school, Placer High School and Dorsey High School in Los Angeles, graduating in 1940. He also attended Japanese language school, where he did his first writing and performing.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Kashiwagi and his family were sent to the Tule Lake War Relocation Center
Tule Lake War Relocation Center
Tule Lake Segregation Center National Monument was an internment camp in the northern California town of Newell near Tule Lake. It was used in the Japanese American internment during World War II. It was the largest and most controversial of the camps, and did not close until after the war, in...
, an internment camp for Japanese Americans
Japanese American internment
Japanese-American internment was the relocation and internment by the United States government in 1942 of approximately 110,000 Japanese Americans and Japanese who lived along the Pacific coast of the United States to camps called "War Relocation Camps," in the wake of Imperial Japan's attack on...
. In camp, Kashiwagi spent time reading, and joined a theatre group. When the U.S. government forced detainees to fill out a Leave Clearance Application Form, commonly known as a the "loyalty questionnaire," Kashiwagi refused to answer the infamous questions 27 & 28, key questions which asked internees, after a year of unjustified incarceration, if they were willing to swear unqualified allegiance to, and serve in the military for, the same government that had forced them into the camps in violation of the constitutional rights, and, if they were willing to forswear allegiance to Japan, thereby admitting an allegiance to the enemy. Unable to answer "yes-yes," to the two questions, the government took Kashiwagi's refusal to reply as a "no-no," and he was branded a No-No Boy
No-No Boy
No-No Boy is the only novel published by Japanese American writer, John Okada. It deals with the aftermath of the Japanese American internment during World War II. The novel begins as Ichiro Yamada is returning home from prison, and follows him as he struggles to come to terms with his decision of...
, and he and his family were segregated by the government as "disloyals" and were ostracized by the Japanese American community. Through government coercion, Kashiwagi and others at Tule Lake renounced their U.S. citizenship.
After the end of World War II, Kashiwagi attended UCLA. He wrote his first play in 1949 for the Nisei Experimental Group, a theatre group formed in Los Angeles. His one-act play, THE PLUMS CAN WAIT, was first performed in Los Angeles in 1950, and in San Francisco and Berkeley the following year. He graduated from UCLA, receiving a B.A. in Oriental Languages in 1952.
In 1959, with the help of attorney Wayne Collins
Wayne M. Collins
Wayne M. Collins was a civil rights attorney who worked on cases related to the Japanese American evacuation and internment.-Biography:Collins was born in Sacramento, California and was raised and educated in San Francisco....
, Kashiwagi had his United States citizenship restored. Kashiwagi would later dedicate his book Swimming in the American: a Memoir and Selected Writings to Collins, "who rescued me as an American and restored my faith in America."
In 1966, Kashiwagi graduated from UC Berkeley, receiving a Masters in Library Science degree.
Kashiwagi worked at the Buddhist headquarters in San Francisco for almost eight years as a translator and interpreter, English secretary and editor. He also was employed at the San Francisco Public Library
San Francisco Public Library
The San Francisco Public Library is a public library system serving the city of San Francisco. Its main library is located in San Francisco's Civic Center, at 100 Larkin Street at Grove. The first public library of San Francisco officially opened in 1879, just 30 years after the California Gold...
as a reference librarian in literature, Japanese language materials, science and government documents, and as a branch manager. At the Western Addition Branch Library, he started what became the largest collection of Japanese language books on the West Coast. He retired after 20 years in 1987, when he was cast in Philip Kan Gotanda
Philip Kan Gotanda
Philip Kan Gotanda is an American playwright and filmmaker. Much of his work deals with Asian American issues and experiences.- Biography :...
's play, The Wash at the Eureka Theatre.
Kashiwagi appeared in several films, including Black Rain, directed by Ridley Scott
Ridley Scott
Sir Ridley Scott is an English film director and producer. His most famous films include The Duellists , Alien , Blade Runner , Legend , Thelma & Louise , G. I...
, and Hito Hata: Raise the Banner produced by Visual Communications
Visual Communications (VC)
Visual Communications – also known as VC – is a community-based non-profit media arts organization in Los Angeles, dedicated to creating, preserving and presenting Asian Pacific American history and culture through the media arts...
.
He resides in San Francisco, California with his wife and has three grown sons, including playwright Soji Kashiwagi
Soji Kashiwagi
Soji Kashiwagi is a Sansei journalist, playwright and producer. He is the Executive Producer for the Grateful Crane Ensemble theatre company in Los Angeles...
, leader of the Japanese American
Japanese American
are American people of Japanese heritage. Japanese Americans have historically been among the three largest Asian American communities, but in recent decades have become the sixth largest group at roughly 1,204,205, including those of mixed-race or mixed-ethnicity...
theatre troupe, the Grateful Crane Ensemble
Grateful Crane Ensemble
The Grateful Crane Ensemble is a non-profit 501 Asian American theatre company based in Southern California, established in July, 2001.-Mission:...
. Kashiwagi is a member of Dramatists Guild
Dramatists Guild of America
The Dramatists Guild of America is a professional organization for playwrights, composers, and lyricists working in the U.S. theatre market.Membership as an Associate Member is open to any person having written at least one stage play. Active Members are playwrights who have had at least one play...
and Screen Actors Guild
Screen Actors Guild
The Screen Actors Guild is an American labor union representing over 200,000 film and television principal performers and background performers worldwide...
.
Plays
- The Plums Can Wait
- Laughter and False Teeth
- Live Oak Store
- Voices From Japanese America
- Mondai wa Akira
- The Betrayed
Books
- Swimming in the American: A Memoir and Selected Writings – (American Book AwardAmerican Book AwardThe American Book Award was established in 1978 by the Before Columbus Foundation. It seeks to recognize outstanding literary achievement by contemporary American authors, without restriction to race, sex, ethnic background, or genre...
) - Ocean Beach