FORCE FOR MORAL GOOD
2026-09-21
Changing demographic, but Japanese Heritage Values remain
strong in our Pacific Northwest Community!!
This title comes from listening to Oprah. I love conversations, connections and in depth discussions about where we can go in life.
Fifty years ago, I was mentored by Hana Masuda. We made a pact to serve in our Japanese in America community the rest of our lives. The last time I saw Hana, she no longer knew me and was living at the Keiro Nursing Home in Seattle. Hana greeted me with her big smile and still made me feel very special. She no longer had memory capability, but every cell in her body had been taught to respond lovingly!
Hana Masuda was not a “leadership name”. It was her husband, Min, that had the name as a forceful community leader. Minoru “Min” Masuda (1915-1980) was a Seattle-born World War II veteran, University of WA professor of Psychiatry and prominent advocate for Japanese American redress.
After Hana passed, I renewed my pact with Penny Fukui; and we see each other frequently as we continue to participate in JA community events and organizational activities.