Henry Kasai's Unyielding Legacy | Salt Lake City News

0:00It's September 12th. This is Salt Lake City News today, your AI-powered local news. When World War II kicked off, Henry Kasai, a prominent first-generation Japanese immigrant, found himself under U.S. government surveillance. He was seen as a security risk and was taken from his family for about two and a half years, spinning that time in jail. His daughter recalls him being arrested on the street and her mother having no idea what happened. Despite these harsh experiences, Henry Kasai didn't completely abandon his mission of assisting other Japanese immigrants. He was moved through five different jails during his incarceration, starting in Muzula, Montana, and ending up in Santa Fe, New Mexico. His money was confiscated, and while his family received some funds, it wasn't enough to cover everything, forcing his wife to sell their car. Meanwhile, the Japanese American Citizens League, an organization Kasai helped establish, moved its headquarters to Utah. His wife, Alice, stepped up to become the first female president, managing the organization's

1:01operations, while Henry was away. When he was finally released, he was brought home in the same wrinkled suit he was arrested in. A moment his daughter described as deeply demeaning. After his release, Henry Kasai continued his work fostering intercultural relations. He even received an outstanding citizen of the year award in Salt Lake City, ironically, about 10 years before he was able to become a U.S. citizen. It took him 50 years from arriving in the U.S. to even be eligible to apply for citizenship. Henry and his wife, Alice, dedicated many years to fighting for the civil rights of Japanese Americans. He was also instrumental in the effort to build the Japanese Garden within the International Peace Gardens. Henry Kasai passed away in 1966 at the age of 75, leaving behind a legacy of advocacy and community building.