Ayako Ishigaki

Ayako Ishigaki was a Japanese American community activist and survivor of the World War II internment of Japanese Americans. She was born in Seattle, Washington in 1915 and grew up in the city's Nihonmachi, or Japantown, neighborhood.

In 1942, following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Ishigaki and her family were forcibly removed from their home and sent to the Minidoka War Relocation Center in Idaho. While at the camp, Ishigaki worked as a nurse's aide and taught English to Japanese-speaking residents. After her release from the camp in 1945, she settled in San Francisco, California.

Ishigaki became a leader in the Japanese American community, working to promote civil rights and social justice. She served as the director of the Japanese Community Youth Council, where she worked to empower young Japanese Americans and promote cultural awareness. She was also a founding member of the Asian Women's Resource Center, an organization dedicated to providing services and support to Asian women and their families.

In addition to her community activism, Ishigaki was an accomplished artist and writer. She co-edited a book about the Minidoka War Relocation Center, titled "Minidoka: An American Concentration Camp," and her poetry and artwork were featured in various publications.

Ishigaki's contributions to the Japanese American community were recognized by numerous awards and honors. She was awarded the San Francisco Living Treasure Award in 1997 and was inducted into the Alameda County Women's Hall of Fame in 2006.

Ayako Ishigaki passed away in 2011 at the age of 95. Her legacy as a tireless advocate for social justice and community empowerment continues to inspire and guide those working for a more just and equitable society.