Scholarship Donors & Recipients

MIYASAKI FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP

Aki Miyasaki and the late John Miyasaki were born and raised in Los Angeles, California. In the first months of World War II, they and their family were removed from their home, and incarcerated for the duration of the war at Heart Mountain Relocation Center in Wyoming. Aki and John resettled in Chicago in 1945, resumed their educations at the University of Southern California and Illinois Institute of Technology, and built their careers in education and engineering. Established in 2019 through the Japanese Mutual Aid Society of Chicago, the Miyasaki Family Scholarship is meant to help young people reach their educational goals and take their places as contributing members of their communities.

The Japanese Mutual Aid Society of Chicago is a 501(c)(3) organization that was founded in 1935 by Japanese immigrants living and working in Chicago to assist other members of their community. The Miyasaki Family Scholarship continues Mutual Aid’s original and current commitment to community service.

2026 AWARDEE: Gabby Matsushita

 

JAPANESE MUTUAL AID SOCIETY SCHOLARSHIP

A group of concerned citizens of Japanese ancestry in Chicago started an organization in 1934 to pay for the final expenses and dignified burial of Japanese immigrants who passed away without families, relatives, and funds. The organization, which was formally launched in January 1935 under the name of Japanese Mutual Aid Society of Chicago, committed to three missions:

  • Purchase centrally located cemetery plots.
  • Help pay for final expenses of all who died without families or funds.
  • Provide necessary social services to the Japanese community in Chicago.

The original missions of JMAS have been expanded to include support of community outreach activities, services, and projects. Under the expanded mission, JMAS has and will provide funds for scholarships to graduate and undergraduate students through the assistance of Japanese American Citizens League.

2026 AWARDEE: Ava Yatabe

 

TOMIYAMA FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP

The Tomiyama Family Scholarship is given in honor of Tak and Todd Tomiyama. 

Taketo “Tak” Tomiyama was born in Los Angeles, CA on February 23, 1933.  He attended Whitter School until President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which relocated him and his family to Rohwer Camp in Rower Arkansas. Once released from camp, he and his family moved to Chicago, IL where he graduated from Hyde Park High School. Tak always had a lifelong love of movies, so it was not a surprise to anyone that he attended the America TV Institute with a goal of being a cameraman. Before achieving his goal, Tak was drafted into the US Army and was assigned to White Sands as a draftsperson. 

After the Korean War, Tak attended the University of Illinois at Navy Pier and Roosevelt University graduating with a Bachelor degree in Physics. While attending Roosevelt, he became involved in The Drama Guild of Wilson College where he was cast in The Teahouse of the August Moon and The Caine Mutiny. In addition to school and the drama club, Tak worked at the Museum of Science and Industry as a docent. He subsequently got a job at Northrop as an electrical engineer focusing on microware technology.

Tak had always been active in JACL, acting as a Jr. JACL Treasurer and 1st Vice President. He served as the President of JACL Chicago for two terms (1968 and 1970), where he wrote letters to Washington DC championing the repeal of Title II of the Internal Security Act of 1950.  After his presidency terms, he also served on the board of JACL Federal Credit Union for many years so he could support others.  He had a core belief that he should always support/help the Japanese American community in any capacity whether it be financial or otherwise. 

Tak loved astronomy and spending time with his wife and family. In addition to his involvement with JACL, he spent his free time managing his family property, answering phones at The Buddhist Temple of Chicago and enjoying quiet time reading his newspaper from front to back. Tak was always there to take relatives and friends out to lunch, give them a tour of Chicago or whatever else people needed him to do. He did all of these activities with a quick wit and sly smile.

Todd Tomiyama was born in Chicago, IL on October 10, 1965. Todd graduated from Lane Tech High School in 1983 and attended Northern University. Todd followed his dad’s (Tak) involvement in the Japanese American community. He participated in the Junior JACL and several sporting teams. Todd developed life-long friends and was known as someone you could count on to help.

This scholarship honors both Tak and Todd’s contributions and to encourage students to maintain the legacy of JACL through education.

2026 AWARDEE: Thomas Yatabe

 

CHIYE TOMIHIRO MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, Chiye Tomihiro was in high school when World War II broke out. Chiye and her mother were forced into an American concentration camp at Minidoka in Idaho while the FBI detained her father for three years because he was a former president of the Japanese American Chamber of Commerce.

After the war, the family resettled in Chicago. In 1981, Chiye spoke movingly about her wartime experience in a federal hearing before the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians. She mobilized others to do the same. In 1983, the Commission concluded that the incarceration of Japanese Americans had not been justified by military necessity but instead was based on “race prejudice, war hysterias and a failure of political leadership.”  

Chiye, who passed away on October 21, 2012, was a dedicated member of the JACL, having served as chapter president, board member and active participant.  She shared her Wartime experience in many forums, including elementary and high schools, the Illinois Holocaust Museum, and Lincoln Library in Springfield to educate subsequent generations. Chiye left a generous bequest to JACL Chicago to be used to provide scholarships.

2026 AWARDEES: Addyson McGarry, Maya Ostermann

 

MAS NAKAGAWA MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

The Mas Nakagawa Memorial Scholarship was established in memory of Mas Nakagawa, a talented and successful graphic artist.  Mr. Nakagawa served with the famed 442nd Regimental Combat Team during World War II.  He settled in Chicago after his discharge and studied at the Illinois Institute of Design.  While honing his skills professionally, he began to contribute countless hours to JACL and the community, designing invitations, programs, logos, etc.  There are many samples of his designs in the JACL files.  

This scholarship is typically given to a student who is pursuing further study in the creative arts or related field. 

2026 AWARDEES: Hyo Amano,
Emiko Tahara

 

YOSHINO FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP

The Yoshino Family Scholarship is presented in honor of Maurice and Misako Yoshino, who believed in the value of education as one of the foundations of their family life. They worked to ensure that each of their children had the opportunity to receive a college education. Ron, Bill, and Larry Yoshino award this scholarship in honor and memory of their parents.

2026 AWARDEES: Emma Wilkinson, 
Daniel Sanji

 

JACL CHICAGO SCHOLARSHIP

The JACL Chicago Chapter Scholarship was established to encourage and support young people seeking higher education. Funded by generous donations from community members, this scholarship, like our program more broadly, recognizes the accomplishments of students who have demonstrated a commitment to JACL’s mission of advancing social justice and promoting the legacy and cultural heritage of the Japanese American community. Factors considered in awarding this scholarship include academic excellence, service to the community, good citizenship, and evidence of leadership ability.

 

JOHN IWAOKA MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Since 2008, JACL Chicago has been pleased to award scholarships from a trust established by the estate of John Iwaoka.

John Iwaoka was born in Santa Rosa, California and grew up in San Francisco. His father owned a dry cleaning business. John attended Polytechnic High School in San Francisco, which specialized in trades and vocational training. After graduation, John decided to learn a trade and went to work with two Issei men who taught him carpentry. John became a very accomplished carpenter and took pride in his profession.

At the outbreak of World War II, John and his family were relocated to Heart Mountain Internment Camp in Wyoming. After the war, he came to Chicago and eventually bought a building with his brother, Sam, and sister, Rose.

In his personal life, John enjoyed golfing, fishing, making Japanese food, Taiko performances, Japanese films, and Japanese community events. He was very good at sketching and rode his bicycle until he was in his 80’s.

Although John did not have formal education beyond high school, he put a lot of value on education. John’s biggest regret is that he did not have children to carry on his legacy. In the place of heirs, he established a trust fund for the Chicago JACL to set up scholarships to empower future generations of Japanese Americans to follow their dreams.