Japanese American Citizens League

Eligibility

Every applicant must be an active National JACL member. JACL membership is open to everyone of any ethnic background. All who meet the eligibility criteria are welcomed and encouraged to apply. Note: applicants must hold an Individual or Student/Youth Membership. A Couple/Family membership by a parent will not meet this requirement.

Undergraduate Awards

Kyutaro & Yasuo Abiko Memorial Scholarship – This award was established in honor of the late Kyutaro and Yasuo Abiko. Mr. Yasuo Abiko was a prominent leader of the San Francisco Japanese American community and editor of the Nichi Bei Times newspaper. Preference for this award will be given to a student studying journalism or agriculture.

Alice Yuriko Endo Memorial Scholarship – Established by the Endo family, Mrs. Endo was an active member of the Washington D.C. JACL chapter. An avid supporter of social causes, Mrs. Endo and her son, Todd, proudly marched in the historic Civil Rights March in Washington, D.C. in 1964. Preference for this scholarship will be given to a student residing in the Eastern District Council and/or a student with an interest in public and social service.

Daniel & Irene Iritani Memorial Scholarship - This scholarship honors the memory of Daniel & Irene Iritani of Denver, Colorado, and was established by son, Robert Iritani and Family of Huntington Beach, California. As parents, Daniel & Irene Iritani raised two boys, who learned from their parents the importance of working hard and developing grit for whatever they took on and respect for any field of study. They also imparted to their sons that one must love yourself first because without love, one could never be happy with life and the world we live in. This scholarship shall support students in the pursuit of their dreams. Preference for this scholarship is a deserving undergraduate student who qualifies for financial aid.

Kenji Kajiwara Memorial Scholarship – This scholarship was established as a perpetual trust by Mrs. Chibako Kajiwara in memory of her husband. Mr. and Mrs. Kajiwara deeply believed in the value and necessity of higher education to discover, encourage and develop the inherent potential of our youth.

Saburo Kido Memorial Scholarship – A founder of the JACL, Mr. Kido was one of the architects of the National JACL structure and its constitution. Mr. Kido’s service to the JACL spanned over fifty years, in which he served as National President during the trying and tumultuous times of World War II and the incarceration.

Henry & Chiyo Kuwahara Memorial Scholarship – This award was established by the estate of Henry and Chiyo Kuwahara. Mr. Kuwahara, a resident of Los Angeles, was a well-known investment and securities broker in Little Tokyo. Due to the Kuwaharas’ strong belief in youth and the value of education, their estate funds a number of JACL scholarships.

Shigeki “Shake” Ushio Memorial Scholarship – This undergraduate/graduate award was established in 2004 by the Ushio Family. In 1943, to assist Japanese Americans whose assets had been frozen or restricted during World War II, Shake Ushio helped found the National JACL Credit Union. He was Chairman of the Board for the credit union for over thirty years.

Shigeru “Shig” Nakahira Memorial Scholarship – A long-time JACL member, Shig was described as a good and helpful friend, a 442nd veteran, a capable accountant, an excellent bowler, and a quiet doer of good deeds. This memorial award was established by the Nakahira family in 2009.

Dr. Thomas T. Yatabe Memorial Scholarship – This scholarship was established in honor of Dr. Thomas T. Yatabe, the first elected National President of the JACL.

Further information: https://jacl.org/scholarships

Application portal: https://jacl.wufoo.com/forms/z1lb92ia0jylrvf/