Kip Yoshino Tokuda (October 8, 1946 – July 13, 2013) was an American social worker and politician.[1]

Kip Tokuda
Member of the Washington House of Representatives
from the 37th district
In office
January 9, 1995 – January 13, 2003
Preceded byJesse Wineberry
Succeeded byEric Pettigrew
Personal details
Born(1946-10-08)October 8, 1946
Seattle, Washington, U.S.
DiedJuly 13, 2013(2013-07-13) (aged 66)
Whidbey Island, Washington, U.S.
Relatives
Alma materUniversity of Washington (BA, MSW)
Occupationsocial worker, politician

Background

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Tokuda was born in 1946 in Seattle, Washington. His parents George and Tamako (born Inouye) owned the Tokuda Pharmacy, which was located on Jackson Street at the time.[1] He was raised in Seattle's Central District and on Beacon Hill neighborhoods.[1] He initially attended Garfield High School, but transferred and graduated from Cleveland High School.[1] Tokuda received both his bachelor's and master's degree from the University of Washington (1969, B.A. in sociology, master's degree in social work in 1973).[2] He was director of children's and human services programs.

He served in the Washington House of Representatives 1995-2003 as a Democrat.[3][4] Tokuda was chairman of the House Children and Family Services Committee of the state House.[1] He was also a member of the Appropriations Committee and the Juvenile Justice and Family Law Committee in the chamber.[1]

Tokuda founded the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Washington.[1] On April 29, 2012, Tokuda was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette by Emperor Akihito for promoting positive relations between Japan and the United States.[5]

His sister is television journalist Wendy Tokuda.[5] His niece Maggie Tokuda-Hall wrote a children's book called Love in the Library about how his parents met while imprisoned inside a Japanese-American detention camp during the Second World War.

Death

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Tokuda died of a heart attack on July 13, 2013, at age 66 while fishing on Whidbey Island.[6]

Legacy

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In 2016, the Kip Tokuda Memorial Civil Liberties Public Education Program was established in the State of Washington through the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction to educate the public regarding the history and the lessons of the World War II exclusion, removal, and detention of persons of Japanese ancestry.[7][8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Thompson, Lynn (2013-07-15). "Former state legislator Kip Tokuda dies while fishing". Seattle Times. Archived from the original on 2013-08-25. Retrieved 2013-07-16.
  2. ^ "OMA&D Mourns Loss of Kip Tokuda". Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity. University of Washington. 2013-07-16. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  3. ^ "Kip Tokuda". Our Campaigns.com.
  4. ^ "Kip Tokuda". Vote Smart.
  5. ^ a b "Former Washington State Lawmaker Kip Tokuda Dies at 66". Rafu Shimpo. July 18, 2013.
  6. ^ "Former State Lawmaker Kip Tokuda Dies". KNDU. Archived from the original on 2013-07-17.
  7. ^ Kashino, Debbie (November 2016). "Kip Tokuda's Legacy Lives on Through Education Grant". NVC Newsletter. Nisei Veterans Committee.
  8. ^ "Kip Tokuda Memorial Civil Liberties Public Education Program". Medium. January 3, 2018.