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Midori Kai Trailblazers

Press Release: Midori Kai Trailblazers Committee To Honor Three Trailblazing Nisei Women

April 29, 2026

For Immediate Release
Midori Kai Trailblazers Committee

Event to Honor Three Trailblazing Nisei Women during celebration of AAPI month:

  • Mitsuye Endo
  • Aiko Herzig Yoshinaga
  • Yuri Kochiyama

Honorees:

Mitsuye Endo Tsutsumi  (May 10, 1920 – April 14, 2006) was an American woman of Japanese descent who was unjustly incarcerated during World War II in concentration camps sponsored by the War Relocation Authority.  Endo filed a writ of habeas corpus that ultimately led to a United States Supreme Court ruling that the U.S. government could not continue to detain a citizen who was “concededly loyal” to the United States. On January 2, 2025, she was posthumously awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal for her role in the case challenging the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans in concentration camps.

Aiko Herzig-Yoshinaga (August 5, 1924 – July 18, 2018) was a Japanese American political activist who played a major role in the Japanese American redress movement. She was the lead researcher of the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians (CWRIC), a bipartisan federal committee appointed by Congress in 1980 to review the causes and effects of the Japanese American incarceration during World War II. As a young woman, Herzig-Yoshinaga was confined in the Manzanar Concentration Camp in California, the Jerome War Relocation Center in Arkansas, and the Rohwer War Relocation Center, which is also in Arkansas. She later uncovered government documents that debunked the wartime administration’s claims of “military necessity” and helped compile the CWRIC’s final report, Personal Justice Denied, which led to the issuance of a formal apology and reparations for former camp inmates. She also contributed pivotal evidence and testimony to the Hirabayashi, Korematsu and Yasui coram nobis cases.

Yuri Kochiyama (May 19, 1921 – June 1, 2014) was a Japanese American political and civil rights activist. During World War II, the U.S. government forcibly removed her and her family to an incarceration site for Japanese Americans. For fifty years, Kochiyama spoke out about oppressive institutions and injustice in the United States. Her activism supported the liberation and empowerment of African Americans, Asian Americans, and Puerto Ricans. She also advocated for nuclear disarmament, reparations for Japanese American incarcerees, and the release of prisoners whom she regarded as prisoners of conscience.

She was interned at the Jerome War Relocation Center in Arkansas during World War II, an experience that influenced her views on racism in the United States. While interned, she helped run a letter-writing campaign to Nisei(transl. ’second-generation’) soldiers, wrote for the Jerome camp newspaper, and volunteered with the United Service Organizations (USO).

Midori Kai Endowment Donations in Honor of Honorees:

Designated Nonprofit $1000 donation from MK Endowment:

  • In honor of Mitsuye Endo
    Salute, Inc.
    Nonprofit for US Military Veterans is dedicated to meeting the financial, physical and emotional needs of injured military service members, veterans and their families.
  • In honor of Aiko Hergiz Yoshinaga
    Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute
    The mission is to create a space to engage, share, and embrace the Nikkei experience and culture.
  • In honor of Yuri Kochiyama
    Philanthropic Ventures Foundation
    The goal is to be a model for the philanthropic community, demonstrating new concepts in giving and disseminating this information to colleagues across the country and abroad.

In early 2022, the Midori Kai Trailblazers Project was launched. The Committee started of by developing the scope, intention, goals and mission of this idea which includes honoring visionaries, leaders and trailblazers whose lifelong efforts created positive change in our lives. An important component in honoring these change-makers is offering each to identify a non-profit organization of their choice, which they would like Midori Kai to donate in their honor.

The first trailblazers were honored at an inaugural event which was held on May 6, 2023 at Filoli Historic House and Garden. Our three 2023 honorees are:

Yoshihiro Uchida

  • Founder of Judo in the United States
  • Instrumental in establishing Judo in the Olympic Games
  • Judo Coach at San Jose State University
  • Former WWII Medical Technician
  • Built up a small medical laboratory in 1956 which successfully grew to a $30 million company by 1989
  • A Leader who guided the City of San Jose and San Jose Japantown into vibrant communities

Patsy Takemoto Mink

  • First Japanese American woman licensed to practice law in Hawaii
  • First Hawaiian and Japanese American woman elected to Congress
  • Co-authored and sponsored Title IX Amendment of the Higher Education Act (which became law in 1972)
  • Co-sponsored the Gender Equity Act of 1993
  • Co-founder of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
  • Co-sponsor of the DREAM Act
  • 2014 Presidential Medal of Freedom (posthumously)

Norman Y Mineta

  • First Japanese American Mayor of a major U.S. city
  • CO-Founder and first chairperson of the Congressional Asian Pacific Caucus
  • Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
  • First Asian American to hold a presidential cabinet post: Us Secretary of Commerce under President Clinton
  • United States Secretary of Transportation under President George W. Bush
  • 2006 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient

Coach Uchida attended the event and accepted the commendation. His designated donation went to the San Jose State University Judo Program. Sharing information of Coach Uchida’s challenges and successes was Nina Seoane, current SJSU Judo Team Captain. Coach Uchida faced roadblocks in sports, his community and in business that he led to positive changes and results.

Professor Dana Frank accepted the commendation for the Late Honorable Patsy Takemoto Mink. The Honorable Roberta Hayashi, current Superior Court Judge for the County of Santa Clara and former Midori Kai Director, shared information of Patsy’s challenges, journey, and dedication towards equal opportunity of all. Patsy Mink’s family designated The Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation as the designated nonprofit organization.

Mr David Mineta and Mrs Chistine Mineta, Mr Stuart Mineta and daughter Yoshi Mineta accepted the commendation for The Late Honorable Norman Y Mineta. The family designated Japantown Community Congress of San Jose as the recipient of the nonprofit organization stated that the City of San Jose and San Jose Japantown are the initial stepping stones for Norm’s achievements. Mr. John Flaherty, former chief of staff, speech writer and advisor to Norm while in the US Congress as well as in Norm’s other governmental positions shared heartwarming information about Norm.

Trailblazer Committee Members:

  • Joyce Iwasaki – Committee Chair
  • Connie Decena
  • Julie Hubbard
  • Lisa Kinoshita
  • Phyllis Osaki
  • June Sakamoto
  • Sally Takemoto
  • Vicki Wynne
  • Pam Yoshida

For approximately one year, the committee developed a list of 62 possible award nominees. They developed biographical information on each nominee and voted to create a short list of 6 nominees to be presented to the entire Midori Kai Board. The Board’s voting process resulted in the 3 nominees designated for 2023.

Midori Kai Board of Directors in attendance for this event.


Back row: Julie Hubbard, June Sakamoto, Vicki Wynne, Connie Decena, Joyce Iwasaki, JoAnn Kato, Pam Yoshida
Front row: Phyllis Osaki, Lisa Kinoshita, Heidi Shigematsu, Janice Miyatake, Ruth Shikada, Naomi Nakano-Matsumoto, Sally Takemoto, Reiko Kawano