Sanji Abe
Encyclopedia
was a pre-World War II
politician in Hawaii
. He was the first Japanese American
elected to the Senate of the Territory of Hawaii
.
in 1895 to immigrant parents from Japan
, Matsujiro and Raku, who had arrived in the islands two years earlier as migrant workers from Fukuoka. He attended public schools there. He entered the police department as a Japanese interpreter in 1918, and as a member of the Hawaii National Guard
was taken into the United States Army
with his fellow guardsmen to serve in World War I
. After the war, he rose to the rank of deputy sheriff. He was married to Asami Miyose Abe, with whom he had six children (Bernice/Taj, George/Millie, Stanley/Pat, Henry/Betty, Helen/Stanley, and Ethel/Milton), 12 grandchildren (Mark/Debbie, Lance, Kurt, Shirley, Pamela/Ray, Nathan, Susan/Merle, Mandy/Lars, Paul/Donna, John/Karin, Greg/Suzie, and David/Iris), 22 great grandchildren (Justin, Kimi, Kevin, Heather, Matthew, Kara, Kristy, Davin, Darla, Timothy, Micah, Patrick, Tyler, Ryan, Kristin, Ryan, Zane, Max, Anna, Alana, Sarah and Marissa) and 2 great-great grandchildren (Dylan, Aidan).
In 1940, Abe became the first American of Japanese ancestry to be elected to Hawaii's territorial senate; he ran from the South Hilo district as a Republican. His dual citizenship
of the U.S.
and Japan
became a hotly-discussed issue during his election campaign. His citizenship issues first came to public attention in early October; soon afterwards, Abe announced that he would be renouncing
his Japanese citizenship. He received confirmation of his expatriation on November 2.
; he was arrested on August 2, 1942, roughly eight months after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor
brought the United States into World War II
. Two days later, he was formally charged with possession of a Japanese flag
. However, at the time he was charged, this was not in fact an offence; with martial law
in effect, the Army issued an order making this a crime, but that was not until six days after his arrest. As a result, he was released by a military tribunal two weeks later. The flag in question was a prop in a movie theater which Abe owned jointly; he suspected that it had been planted.
However, the Army took Abe into "custodial detention" anyway soon after, a fact which they did not publicly announce until September 8. This time, no charge was filed against him. The writ of habeas corpus
had been suspended due to martial law
. Unable to serve out his term as a state senator, Abe resigned from his elected post on February 4, 1943, stating as his reason that he wished "to protect the people of the territory and the legislature from unjust outside attacks." He was the last Japanese American to resign from the Hawaii territorial legislature; his resignation marked the first time since 1931 that Hawaii had no state legislators of Japanese extraction. Abe would be held for a total of nineteen months, first at Sand Island
, and then at the Honouliuli Internment Camp
, where fellow Japanese American legislator Thomas Sakakihara
was also detained. He was released on July 12, 1944; in an interview with the Honolulu Star-Bulletin
soon after, he stated that "my conscience is clear".
. He died on November 26, 1982 at the Castle Memorial Hospital
.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
politician in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. He was the first Japanese American
Japanese American
are American people of Japanese heritage. Japanese Americans have historically been among the three largest Asian American communities, but in recent decades have become the sixth largest group at roughly 1,204,205, including those of mixed-race or mixed-ethnicity...
elected to the Senate of the Territory of Hawaii
Territory of Hawaii
The Territory of Hawaii or Hawaii Territory was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 7, 1898, until August 21, 1959, when its territory, with the exception of Johnston Atoll, was admitted to the Union as the fiftieth U.S. state, the State of Hawaii.The U.S...
.
Early life and political career
Abe was born in Kailua, HawaiiHawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
in 1895 to immigrant parents from Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Matsujiro and Raku, who had arrived in the islands two years earlier as migrant workers from Fukuoka. He attended public schools there. He entered the police department as a Japanese interpreter in 1918, and as a member of the Hawaii National Guard
Hawaii National Guard
The Hawaii National Guard consists of the Hawaii Army National Guard and the Hawaii Air National Guard. The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and state missions. In fact, the National Guard is the only United States military force empowered...
was taken into the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
with his fellow guardsmen to serve in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. After the war, he rose to the rank of deputy sheriff. He was married to Asami Miyose Abe, with whom he had six children (Bernice/Taj, George/Millie, Stanley/Pat, Henry/Betty, Helen/Stanley, and Ethel/Milton), 12 grandchildren (Mark/Debbie, Lance, Kurt, Shirley, Pamela/Ray, Nathan, Susan/Merle, Mandy/Lars, Paul/Donna, John/Karin, Greg/Suzie, and David/Iris), 22 great grandchildren (Justin, Kimi, Kevin, Heather, Matthew, Kara, Kristy, Davin, Darla, Timothy, Micah, Patrick, Tyler, Ryan, Kristin, Ryan, Zane, Max, Anna, Alana, Sarah and Marissa) and 2 great-great grandchildren (Dylan, Aidan).
In 1940, Abe became the first American of Japanese ancestry to be elected to Hawaii's territorial senate; he ran from the South Hilo district as a Republican. His dual citizenship
Multiple citizenship
Multiple citizenship is a status in which a person is concurrently regarded as a citizen under the laws of more than one state. Multiple citizenships exist because different countries use different, and not necessarily mutually exclusive, citizenship requirements...
of the U.S.
United States nationality law
Article I, section 8, clause 4 of the United States Constitution expressly gives the United States Congress the power to establish a uniform rule of naturalization. The Immigration and Naturalization Act sets forth the legal requirements for the acquisition of, and divestiture from, citizenship of...
and Japan
Japanese nationality law
Japanese nationality is a legal designation and set of rights granted to those people who have met the federal criteria for citizenship by parentage or by naturalization...
became a hotly-discussed issue during his election campaign. His citizenship issues first came to public attention in early October; soon afterwards, Abe announced that he would be renouncing
Renunciation of citizenship
Renunciation is a voluntary act of relinquishing one's citizenship . It is the opposite of naturalization whereby a person voluntarily acquires a citizenship, and related to denaturalization where the loss of citizenship is not voluntary, but forced by a state.-Historic practices:The old common law...
his Japanese citizenship. He received confirmation of his expatriation on November 2.
Arrests and detention
The intersection of Abe's ancestry and rise to prominence set him up for negative attention from the US Army's Hawaii sub-commandUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
; he was arrested on August 2, 1942, roughly eight months after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
brought the United States into World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Two days later, he was formally charged with possession of a Japanese flag
Flag of Japan
The national flag of Japan is a white rectangular flag with a large red disk in the center. This flag is officially called in Japanese, but is more commonly known as ....
. However, at the time he was charged, this was not in fact an offence; with martial law
Martial law
Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
in effect, the Army issued an order making this a crime, but that was not until six days after his arrest. As a result, he was released by a military tribunal two weeks later. The flag in question was a prop in a movie theater which Abe owned jointly; he suspected that it had been planted.
However, the Army took Abe into "custodial detention" anyway soon after, a fact which they did not publicly announce until September 8. This time, no charge was filed against him. The writ of habeas corpus
Habeas corpus
is a writ, or legal action, through which a prisoner can be released from unlawful detention. The remedy can be sought by the prisoner or by another person coming to his aid. Habeas corpus originated in the English legal system, but it is now available in many nations...
had been suspended due to martial law
Martial law
Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
. Unable to serve out his term as a state senator, Abe resigned from his elected post on February 4, 1943, stating as his reason that he wished "to protect the people of the territory and the legislature from unjust outside attacks." He was the last Japanese American to resign from the Hawaii territorial legislature; his resignation marked the first time since 1931 that Hawaii had no state legislators of Japanese extraction. Abe would be held for a total of nineteen months, first at Sand Island
Sand Island (Hawaii)
Sand Island, formerly known as Quarantine Island, is a small island within the city of Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. The island lies at the entrance to Honolulu Harbor.-History:...
, and then at the Honouliuli Internment Camp
Honouliuli Internment Camp
The Honouliuli Internment Camp was one of five internment camps in Hawaii during World War II.-Construction and operation:Run by the US Army, the camp's supervisor was Captain Siegfried Spillner. The camp was constructed on of land near Ewa on the island of Oahu to hold internees transferred from...
, where fellow Japanese American legislator Thomas Sakakihara
Thomas Sakakihara
, referred to locally as Tommy Sakakihara in person and in print, was a Japanese American politician from Hawaii, interned due to his ancestry during World War II.-Political career:...
was also detained. He was released on July 12, 1944; in an interview with the Honolulu Star-Bulletin
Honolulu Star-Bulletin
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin was a daily newspaper based in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. At the time publication ceased on June 6, 2010, it was the second largest daily newspaper in the state of Hawaii...
soon after, he stated that "my conscience is clear".
Later activities
Unlike fellow internee Sakakihara, Abe did not return to politics after the end of World War IIEnd of World War II in the Pacific
The end of World War II in Asia occurred on 14/15 August 1945 when armed forces of the Japanese nation surrendered to the forces of the United Nations...
. He died on November 26, 1982 at the Castle Memorial Hospital
Castle Medical Center
Castle Medical Center is a 160-bed medical center located in Windward Oahu. It provides a full range of services, including: acute care, 24-hour emergency services, outpatient and home care, wellness and lifestyle medicine, chemotherapy clinic, Surgical Weight Loss Institute, Hawaii Muscular...
.