Ueno, Harry Y. (Harry Yoshio), 1907-

Japanese American who was interred during World War II.

From the description of Harry Y. Ueno papers, 1912-1997. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122369500

Ueno was a cook at the Manzanar Relocation Center; he was active in trying to organize kitchen workers in protest against camp conditions and was outspoken against the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL); accused of beating JACL leader Fred Tayaman and taken to the Inyo County Jail; a mass protest for his release triggered the Manzanar Incident; the "Incident" exposed tensions in the camp and accelerated the WRA plans to segregate the "loyal" from the "unloyal" camp residents; Ueno later reported mistreatment related to his transfer to Luepp Isolation Center.

From the description of Papers, 1937-1986, bulk 1937-1950. (University of California, Los Angeles). WorldCat record id: 41578839

Biography

Ueno was a cook at the Manzanar Relocation Center; he was active in trying to organize kitchen workers in protest against camp conditions and was outspoken against the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL); accused of beating JACL leader Fred Tayaman and taken to the Inyo County Jail; a mass protest for his release triggered the Manzanar Incident; the Incident exposed tensions in the camp and accelerated the WRA plans to segregate the loyal from the unloyal camp residents; Ueno later reported mistreatment related to his transfer to Leupp Isolation Center.

From the guide to the Harry Y. Ueno Papers, 1937-1986, bulk 1937-1950, (University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Department of Special Collections.)

Biography

During World War II, approximately 120,000 Japanese Americans were deemed a national security threat and placed in internment camps. Contrary to common belief, Japanese Americans protested against their involuntary confinement. The Manzanar Riot is among the most renowned examples of internee resistance and Harry Ueno played a central role in it. Harry Ueno was born on April 14, 1907 in Hawaii. When he was eight years old, he was taken to Hiroshima, Japan, to be educated. Afler graduating from the Kuba City grammar school and attending a trade school in Tokyo for nearly a year, he returned to the United States in 1923. He held various positions in Washington and northern California before moving to Los Angeles in 1931. In Los Angeles, he and his wife, Yaso, had three children. Harry Ueno was employed as a salesman for retail fruits and vegetables until the evacuation. The Ueno family was evacuated to Manzanar. A few months into his internment, he initiated the investigation of the sugar and beef shortage, and organized 1,600 kitchen workers into Mess Hall Workers Union. On December 5, 1942, Tayama, a JACL (Japanese American Citizen's League) leader in Manzanar, was severely beaten by masked internees. Although Ueno was arrested for this incident, he was not charged or given a trial. The internees in Manzanar congregated in front of Ueno's jail cell demanding his release. Ueno was the veritable folk hero, the martyr of Manzanar, around whom the internees marched. The riot ended with eight internees wounded and two killed. Ueno along with other camp leaders were removed to isolation centers where they were cut off from all contact. It was not until nearly a year later, that he would see his family again. With the war's end, the Ueno family resettled in northern California and began a cherry and strawberry farm. Harry Ueno is now retired, and is an act!ve member and supporter of the Japanese American community and its related research.

From the guide to the Ueno, Harry Y. (Harry Yoshio), 1907- . Papers, 1912-1997, (Stanford University. Libraries. Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives.)