Mich Matsudaira

Martin Mitsuyuki "Mich" Matsudaira, also known as Mitch Matsudaira (November 12, 1937 – March 24, 2019), was an American businessman and civil rights activist.

Mich Matsudaira
Born
Martin Mitsuyuki Matsudaira

(1937-11-12)November 12, 1937
Seattle, Washington
DiedMarch 24, 2019(2019-03-24) (aged 81)
Seattle, Washington[1]
NationalityAmerican
Other namesMitch Matsudaira
OccupationBusinessman
Years active1965 – 2003
Spouse(s)
Ruth Matsumoto
​
​
(m. 1962; div. 1988)​
[2][3]
Children4
RelativesJohn Matsudaira (brother)

Biography

Matsudaira was born in Seattle on November 12, 1937, the son of Japanese immigrants Thomas and Theresa Matsudaira.[4] His older brother, John Matsudaira, was a member of the Northwest School of artists.[5] He was interned with his family at Puyallup Assembly Center and then at Minidoka War Relocation Center during World War II. After returning to Seattle in 1945, he attended Immaculate Conception Elementary School and then O'Dea High School before serving in the United States Air Force as a refuelling specialist on tanker aircraft from 1955 to 1960. After receiving an honorable discharge, he attended the University of Washington, where he received a bachelor's degree in economics in 1965, and then Seattle University, where he obtained a master's degree in public administration in 1977. Matsudaira then worked at Boeing as an industrial engineer and manager for several years before taking his position as executive director of the Governor's Asian American Advisory Council in 1972.

Matsudaira opened Mich's Men's Shop on Jackson Street in Seattle's International District in 1976.[6] He moved his business to Belltown and then to Pioneer Square before closing his shop in 1990.[7] He then returned to Boeing as a financial analyst. He was recognized for his 20 years of experience with Boeing in 2002.[8] He retired from the company on March 1, 2003.[9]

In 1972, Matsudaira, along with other Asian American activists, established the Governor's Asian American Advisory Council, which he headed as executive director.[10] In 1973, he was appointed to a committee reviewing the affirmative action plan on employment opportunities of minority residents by Governor Daniel J. Evans.[11] On May 13, 1974, after the council was renamed the Commission on Asian American Affairs, Matsudaira was one of the speakers at an Asian American awareness workshop hosted by Evergreen State College.[12] On February 19, 1976, he was present in the Cabinet Room when President Gerald Ford signed a proclamation nullifying Executive Order 9066.[13] He resigned his position on the council in 1978 in protest against Governor Dixy Lee Ray.[14] He was a member of the Seattle chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League, and served as its president in 1979.[15][16] During his tenure, when several Japanese residents of Idaho opposed the plans by the Seattle JACL to construct a replica guard tower in Minidoka and burn it on October 13, Matsudaira claimed that the members of the Idaho JACL chapter are "not the custodians of history of Minidoka." Due to opposition, the Seattle chapter did not attend the dedication ceremony on August 18 and the plan was later abandoned.[17][18] Matsudaira later joined the National Council for Japanese American Redress, which he supported financially.[19][20]

Matsudaira died on March 24, 2019.[21][22][23]

Bibliography
  • Memoirs of Theresa Hotoru Matsudaira, 1902–1996 (2006)[24]

See also

References
  1. "Martin Mitsuyuki Matsudaira". Legacy.com. Seattle: The Seattle Times. 2019-04-07. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
  2. "King County Marriage Records, 1855-Present - Martin Mitsuyuki Matsudaira - Ruth Michiko Matsumoto". Washington State Archives. 1962-07-07. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  3. "Department of Health, Divorce Index, 1969-2017 - Matsudaira - Martin - Ruth". Washington State Archives. 1988-03-31. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  4. The Journal of Intergroup Relations. 5–6. National Association of Human Rights Workers. 1976. p. 34.
  5. "John T. Matsudaira". Legacy.com. The Seattle Times. 2007-02-01. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  6. Huang, Nina (2016-11-10). "A retail tradition: The prodigal son returns to Seattle". Northwest Asian Weekly. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  7. Kirkby, Marilyn (1991-11-27). "Wallaby Station: New Seattle Store Won't Come Up Short With Many Guys". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  8. "Service Awards". Boeing. August 2002. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  9. "Employees retired March 1 from The Boeing Company". Boeing. May 2003. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
  10. "Report to the Governor on Discrimination against Asians" (PDF). Education Resources Information Center. State of Washington Asian-American Advisory Council. 1973-06-30. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
  11. "Committee appointed". Newspapers.com. The Daily Chronicle. 1973-12-26. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
  12. "The Evergreen State College Newsletter" (PDF). Evergreen State College. 1974-05-13. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
  13. "President's Daily Diary - February 19, 1976" (PDF). Gerald R Ford Presidential Library & Museum. White House. 1976-02-19. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
  14. General Government Agencies. Office of Financial Management. 1977. p. 3.
  15. Shimabukuro, Robert Sadamu (2013-05-01). Born in Seattle: The Campaign for Japanese American Redress. ISBN 9780295802732.
  16. Past Presidents. Seattle JACL. University of Washington Press. May 2013. ISBN 9780295802732. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  17. "Full text of "The Times News (Idaho Newspaper) 1979-09-25"" (TXT). Internet Archive. The Times News. 1979-09-25. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
  18. Hayashi, Robert T. (2007-08-15). Haunted by Waters: A Journey Through Race and Place in the American West. University of Iowa Press. p. 142. ISBN 9781587297229. Martin Matsudaira.
  19. Hohri, William Minoru (1988). Repairing America: an account of the movement for Japanese-American redress. Washington State University Press. p. 49. ISBN 9780874220339.
  20. Danico, Mary Yu (2014-08-19). Asian American Society: An Encyclopedia. SAGE Publication. ISBN 9781483365602.
  21. "Remembering Mich Matsudaira, champion of redress". Northwest Asian Weekly. 2019-03-28. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  22. Chew, Ron (2019-04-03). "Memorial scheduled for Mich Matsudaira on April 27". International Examiner. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  23. "Martin Mitsuyuki Matsudaira". Columbia Funeral Home and Crematory. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  24. Wong, Rose Marie (2018-10-30). Building Tradition: Pan-Asian Seattle and Life in the Residential Hotels. Chin Music Press Incorporated. ISBN 9781634059688.
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