Mich Matsudaira facts for kids

Martin Mitsuyuki "Mich" Matsudaira (born November 12, 1937 – died March 24, 2019) was an American businessman. He was also a strong supporter of civil rights. People sometimes called him Mitch Matsudaira.

Early Life and Education

Mich Matsudaira was born in Seattle, Washington. His birthday was November 12, 1937. His parents, Thomas and Theresa Matsudaira, were immigrants from Japan. His older brother, John Matsudaira, became a well-known artist.

During World War II, Mich and his family faced a difficult time. The government issued Executive Order 9066. This order forced many Japanese-American families to leave their homes. They were sent to special camps. Mich and his family were first at the Puyallup Assembly Center. Later, they moved to the Minidoka War Relocation Center.

After the war ended in 1945, his family returned to Seattle. Mich went to Immaculate Conception Elementary School. Then he attended O'Dea High School.

Military Service and Career

From 1955 to 1960, Mich served in the United States Air Force. He worked as a specialist who refueled tanker aircraft. After his military service, he received an honorable discharge.

He then went to college. He studied at the University of Washington. In 1965, he earned a bachelor's degree in economics. Later, in 1977, he received a master's degree in public administration from Seattle University.

Mich worked at Boeing, a large airplane company. He was an industrial engineer and a manager for several years. In 1972, he took on a new role. He became the executive director of the Governor's Asian American Advisory Council.

Business Ventures

In 1976, Mich Matsudaira opened his own store. It was called Mich's Men's Shop. The store was located on Jackson Street in Seattle's International District.

He later moved his business to different parts of Seattle. First, he moved it to Belltown. Then, he moved it to Pioneer Square. He closed his shop in 1990. After that, he returned to work at Boeing. He worked there as a financial analyst. In 2002, he was recognized for his 20 years of work at Boeing. He retired from the company on March 1, 2003.

Civil Rights Activism

Mich Matsudaira was a dedicated civil rights activist. In 1972, he helped create the Governor's Asian American Advisory Council. He led this council as its executive director. This group worked to support Asian Americans.

In 1973, Governor Daniel J. Evans appointed Mich to a special committee. This committee looked at how to create fair job opportunities for minority residents.

On May 13, 1974, the council changed its name. It became the Commission on Asian American Affairs. Mich was one of the speakers at a workshop. This workshop helped people learn more about Asian American issues. It was hosted by Evergreen State College.

A very important event happened on February 19, 1976. Mich was present in the Cabinet Room at the White House. President Gerald Ford signed a special paper that day. This paper officially canceled Executive Order 9066. This was the order that had forced Japanese Americans into camps during World War II.

In 1978, Mich resigned from the council. He did this to protest against Governor Dixy Lee Ray. He was also a member of the Seattle chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL). He served as its president in 1979.

During his time as president, there was a disagreement. The Seattle JACL wanted to build a replica guard tower at Minidoka. They planned to burn it as a symbol. Some Japanese residents in Idaho did not agree with this plan. Mich Matsudaira stated that the Idaho JACL members were "not the custodians of history of Minidoka." Because of the strong opposition, the Seattle chapter did not attend the dedication ceremony. The plan to burn the tower was later dropped. Mich later joined another group, the National Council for Japanese American Redress. He also supported them financially.

Mich Matsudaira passed away on March 24, 2019.

See also

• Tomio Moriguchi