Top 5 Japanese Americans You Don’t Want to Mess With

By Koji Steven | Tuesday, May 1, 2012 | 6 Comments

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One Asian American stereotype is that we’re all meek and quiet. I’ve never been that guy. I’m loud and not afraid to say what’s on my mind. And I’m not the only one. There have been loud and proud Asian Americans since we got here.

Here are my Top 5 Japanese Americans who will once and for all put the whole timid Asian stereotype to death. In fact, they will blow it out of the water.

Ken Eto Top 5 Japanese Americans You Don’t Want to Mess With #5: Ken Eto (AKA: Tokyo Joe or the “Jap”)
Ken was the highest ranking Asian American in the Italian mob. He ran the Asian gambling part of the business before he was shot three times in the head. He survived and turned government witness.

#4: Yuri Kochiyama
Yuri has spent the last 70+ years fighting for the rights of others. She is most well-known for befriending Malcolm X during the tumultuous civil rights struggles of the 1960s. She was the Asian American woman cradling Malcolm X’s head after he was assassinated.

Emi grant flannel Top 5 Japanese Americans You Don’t Want to Mess With #3: Frank Emi
Frank was one of the leaders of the Heart Mountain Fair Play Committee. He encouraged others to refuse to join the American military until their civil rights were returned to them. Frank served 18 months Leavenworth, Kansas.

#2: Sadao “Spud” Munemori
Let me just quote, Sadao’s Medal of Honor citation “…he made frontal, one-man attacks through direct fire and knocked out two machine guns with grenades. Withdrawing under murderous fire and showers of grenades from other enemy emplacements, he had nearly reached a shell crater occupied by two of his men when an unexploded grenade bounced on his helmet and rolled toward his helpless comrades. He arose into the withering fire, dived for the missile and smothered its blast with his body.” ‘Nuff said.

R AOKI BP AAPA 300x213 Top 5 Japanese Americans You Don’t Want to Mess With #1: Richard Aoki
Richard was one of the original members of the Black Panther party. He was their gun runner and eventually became the “Field Marshal.” Although there were a few other Asian Americans in the organization, he was the only one with a leadership position.

Did I forget someone? Let me know by leaving a comment!

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6 Comments to “Top 5 Japanese Americans You Don’t Want to Mess With”

Stann Nakazono wrote:

Mitsuye Endo vs. United States. Yes, we’ve heard of Korematsu, Hirabayashi and Yasui, 3 guys who, during WWII challenged the constitutionality of Executive Order 9066 and went up against the Supreme (ly Lame) Court, but they lost (at the time). Mitsuye Endo, being a WOMAN and an employee of the California DMV who was wrongfully terminated, challenged that FDR order and WON. This is why many JAs in camp were released as early 1943 for work and resettlement. Yes, you must include her as a JA you don’t f*** with!

Posted on 01-May-12 at 10:08 am | Permalink
Illuminarie wrote:

I’ve never understood the stereotype of Asians being weak. If I ever had problems with people I would say my Asian friend knew kung-fu, likewise she would tell people I was in a gang =)

Posted on 01-May-12 at 10:39 am | Permalink
bo jackson wrote:

Asians in the Italian Mob and Black Panthers??? Jeez, what else don’t I know about Asian-American history……

Posted on 05-May-12 at 9:56 am | Permalink
Nishani Frazier wrote:

actually there were a few Asian Americans (most Japanese) in the Black Panther Party. They also influenced the formation of the Red Guard and the I Wor Kuen (both Chinese-American founded groups). I LOVE, do you hear me LOVE Richard Aoki. There is a documentary about him that you should check out if you can! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOB-mzSnK-k. This video also features Yuri Kochiyama. Richard also TRAINED members in the BPP in the use of the gun. He drilled them and made sure they could clean and put them together…. You dont F@$% with Richard!

Posted on 11-May-12 at 5:45 pm | Permalink
Comcast Cable Xfinity TV’s Asian Pacific American Heritage Month collection | Business | 8Asians.com wrote:

[...] content includes HBO’s East of Main Street, Aoki – a chronicle of the life of Japanese American civil rights activist Richard Aoki, channels like MYX TV and Cinema Asian America on Xfinity on Demand, and slideshows and articles [...]

Posted on 14-May-12 at 6:02 am | Permalink
mikedo2007 wrote:

Wow, I didn’t know about this until just now. This is very interesting.

Posted on 03-Jun-12 at 5:29 pm | Permalink

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