Edison Uno Initiative for Nikkei and Uchinaanchu Studies

The Edison Uno Initiative for Nikkei and Uchinaanchu Studies (EUINUS) aims to deepen understanding of Japanese American and Okinawan diasporas in the United States. Our aim is to contribute to the intellectual and cultural life of Nikkei and Uchinaanchu communities, both locally and nationally, with an emphasis on social justice, community-building, and political activism.

Inspired by the life and legacy of Edison Uno — a Japanese American civil rights activist who fought for redress and reparation following WWII incarceration — EUINUS advances research, education, and community engagement grounded in a commitment to social justice. 

Edison Uno designed and taught the first classes on Japanese American history at SFSU and helped with the founding of the College of Ethnic Studies. During WWII, Uno was incarcerated at Granada War Relocation Center in Colorado and Crystal City internment camp in Texas for 1,647 days. He was among the last Nisei to be released from camp. Uno dedicated the remainder of his life to civil rights advocacy and political activism. He once described himself as a “non-conforming progressive Nisei” and his commitment to multiethnic and multiracial coalition building for justice animates EUINUS today.

"An objective interpretation of our history cannot deny the fact that there is a great disparity in the dispensation of justice, liberty, and equality. It is obvious that the laws which govern the application of these principles give a great deal of latitude to those who are rich and powerful as compared to those who are poor and powerless"

— Edison Uno, Amerasia Journal, 1974.

EUINUS programming includes

  • Research and Publications: Our research and publication activities contribute to the knowledge and understanding of the history, identity, culture and community life of Nikkei and Uchinaanchu in America.
  • Public Education: We serve the community by hosting panel discussions, lectures, and other types of events in collaboration with community organizations and education groups.
  • EUINUS Community Archive: We aim to preserve and make accessible to others — including scholars, students, and community members — the materials collected during research activities under EUINUS.

Student Resources

Offered Classes 

  • AAS 330 Nikkei in the United States
    • The historical experience of Japanese Americans in the United States: prewar immigration and settlement, the struggle against racial exclusion, World War II incarceration, and the postwar return and development of contemporary Nikkei community. Includes mixed race, war brides, Okinawan American, Yonsei and Gosei, LGBTQIA, and other populations not usually included in dominant Japanese American narratives.
  • AAS 332 Japanese American Art and Literature
    • Examination of Japanese American art and literature through the historical, social, and cultural factors that influenced its development. Specific works and artists representing different genres and periods will be analyzed.
  • AAS 333 Japanese American Identities
    • Japanese American character, identity, self-image, and behavioral manifestations of the interaction of American and Japanese cultural values.
  • AAS 338 Okinawan American Heritage and Culture
    • Analyzes the identity formation and cultural preservation of Okinawans in the U.S. and other parts of the Americas. Theoretical frameworks such as racial formation theory and world systems theory will be explored and developed to understand the complex evolution of the Okinawan diaspora within the dual imperial contexts of American and Japanese empires.

Student Organizations

SFSU Nikkei Student Union 

Internships

Japanese Community Youth Council Nikkei Community Internship

Are you a college student passionate about making a difference in the Japanese American community? The Nikkei Community Internship (NCI) program is your opportunity to gain hands-on experience while deepening your understanding of the issues impacting Japanese Americans today.

Learn more about the internship

Research Projects

Hajichi Yuntaku Project

The Hajichi Yuntaku Project seeks to increase public awareness of hajichi revitalization, center voices of Shimanchu community, support the creation of resources by and for Okinawan community and promote engagement with Okinawan cultural practitioners in ways that value their expertise.

Learn more about the Hajichi Yuntaku Project

Contact

For more information about EUINUS, please email aas@sfsu.edu. 

For more information about donating to EUINUS, contact: 

  • Alex Sánchez, Executive Director of Development

Donate to EUINUS