John Fujio Aiso ( ja, 相磯 藤雄, December 14, 1909 – December 29, 1987) was an American
nisei
is a Japanese-language term used in countries in North America and South America to specify the ethnically Japanese children born in the new country to Japanese-born immigrants (who are called ). The are considered the second generation, ...
military
A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...
leader,
lawyer
A lawyer is a person who practices law. The role of a lawyer varies greatly across different legal jurisdictions. A lawyer can be classified as an advocate, attorney, barrister, canon lawyer, civil law notary, counsel, counselor, solicit ...
and
judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as a part of a panel of judges. A judge hears all the witnesses and any other evidence presented by the barristers or solicitors of the case, assesses the credibility an ...
. Aiso was the Director and head instructor of the
Military Intelligence Service Language School
The Defense Language Institute (DLI) is a United States Department of Defense (DoD) educational and research institution consisting of two separate entities which provide linguistic and cultural instruction to the Department of Defense, other f ...
, and the highest-ranking Japanese American in the U.S. Army during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
. He was also the first Japanese American appointed as a judge in the
contiguous United States
The contiguous United States (officially the conterminous United States) consists of the 48 adjoining U.S. states and the Federal District of the United States of America. The term excludes the only two non-contiguous states, Alaska and Hawaii ...
.
[California Courts,]
John F. Aiso biography
Early life
Born in the Los Angeles suburb of
Burbank, Aiso was an excellent student, despite encounters with anti-Japanese prejudice. He later described one of his first memories as being called a "Jap" by an elderly woman on a streetcar, explaining the amount of effort he put into his schoolwork was largely to counteract such comments. He was elected student body president of his junior high school in 1922, but the victory proved to be short lived: parents protested a Japanese American holding the position, and student government was suspended until Aiso left the school. He went on to attend
Hollywood High School
Hollywood High School is a four-year public secondary school in the Los Angeles Unified School District, located at the intersection of North Highland Avenue and West Sunset Boulevard in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles, California.
Histo ...
, where he drew national attention when he won the school's oratorical competition on the U.S. Constitution in 1926. However, he was once again forced to step down, when he was told he could not compete at the national championship and would instead have to coach his runner up.
Education and career
After graduating at the top of his Hollywood High School class in 1926, Aiso spent a year in Japan, studying Japanese at
Seijo University
is a private university in Seijo, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan. It is operated by the Seijo Gakuen institute. Seijo University has its origins in Seijo Gakuen (成城学園), which was founded in 1917 by Dr. Masataro Sawayanagi, a former Mini ...
in
Tokyo
Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, with an estimated 37.46 ...
. He returned to the United States after receiving a scholarship to attend
Brown University
Brown University is a private research university in Providence, Rhode Island. Brown is the seventh-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, founded in 1764 as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providenc ...
, where he captained the debate team and majored in economics, graduating ''
cum laude
Latin honors are a system of Latin phrases used in some colleges and universities to indicate the level of distinction with which an academic degree has been earned. The system is primarily used in the United States. It is also used in some Sou ...
'' and serving as class valedictorian in 1931. He continued his studies at
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School (Harvard Law or HLS) is the law school of Harvard University, a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest continuously operating law school in the United States.
Each c ...
, completing his degree in 1934.
[Japanese American Veterans Association.]
Hall of Famers
Col. John F. Aiso, Military Intelligence Corps Hall of Fame (1991)." Retrieved 10 November 2014.
Between 1935 and 1952, he worked in private practice in Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world ...
and New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
. In 1936, he spent another year in Tokyo, working with Japanese banks on behalf of his U.S. law firm, and while there he studied Japanese law at Chuo University
, commonly referred to as or , is a private flagship research university in Tokyo, Japan. Founded in 1885 as Igirisu Hōritsu Gakkō (the English Law School), Chuo is one of the oldest and most prestigious institutions in the country. The univer ...
. From 1937 to 1940, he worked for the British American Tobacco
British American Tobacco plc (BAT) is a British multinational company that manufactures and sells cigarettes, tobacco and other nicotine products. The company, established in 1902, is headquartered in London, England. As of 2019, it is the lar ...
Company in Japanese-occupied Manchuria
Manchuria is an exonym (derived from the endo demonym " Manchu") for a historical and geographic region in Northeast Asia encompassing the entirety of present-day Northeast China (Inner Manchuria) and parts of the Russian Far East (Outer M ...
.[
After his return to the United States, Aiso was drafted into the army, reporting for active duty in April 1941. Originally stationed at ]Fort MacArthur
Fort MacArthur is a former United States Army installation in San Pedro, Los Angeles, California (now the port community of Los Angeles). A small section remains in military use by the United States Air Force as a housing and administrative annex ...
, Aiso was assigned to menial tasks due to discrimination, and was working in the motor pool when his proficiency in the Japanese language was recognized by Fourth Army G-2 officer, Capt. Kai E. Rasmussen, who was tasked with developing a Japanese language school, and transferred Aiso to the hastily formed (and, at first, secret) Military Intelligence Service
The Military Intelligence Service ( ja, アメリカ陸軍情報部, ''America Rikugun Jōhōbu'') was a World War II U.S. military unit consisting of two branches, the Japanese American unit (described here) and the German-Austrian unit based ...
Language School (MISLS).[ Recruited by MISLS head Lt Col John Weckerling as an instructor at the school, Aiso, then a ]Private First Class
Private first class (french: Soldat de 1 classe; es, Soldado de primera) is a military rank held by junior enlisted personnel in a number of armed forces.
French speaking countries
In France and other French speaking countries, the rank (; ...
, couldn't be expected to teach officers
An officer is a person who has a position of authority in a hierarchical organization. The term derives from Old French ''oficier'' "officer, official" (early 14c., Modern French ''officier''), from Medieval Latin ''officiarius'' "an officer," fr ...
, and Japanese Americans were prohibited from being commissioned at the time, so he was to be discharged, transferred to Reserve service, and hired as a War Department Civilian.[
Aiso distinguished himself in his role, earning praise from his commanders and his fellow instructors, and was soon appointed the Director of Academic Training, a position normally held by a Lieutenant Colonel. When the Chief of Army Intelligence, Gen ]Clayton Lawrence Bissell
Major General Clayton Lawrence Bissell (July 29, 1893 – December 24, 1972) was an air officer in the United States Army and United States Army Air Forces during World War I and World War II.
World War I service
Bissell graduated from Valpa ...
, visited the school in 1944, he was outraged that a civilian was placed in command of military personnel, and went back to Washington to demand a direct commission for Aiso to Major
Major ( commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicato ...
. In this position, he became the highest-ranking Japanese American
are Americans of Japanese ancestry. Japanese Americans were among the three largest Asian American ethnic communities during the 20th century; but, according to the 2000 census, they have declined in number to constitute the sixth largest Asi ...
in the United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, ...
during the Second World War, eventually separating from active duty with the rank of lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colon ...
.[
Under his inspiring leadership as director of academic training, the MISLS rapidly expanded. He recruited and trained a staff of over 150, developed course materials, and set the highest academic standards.][ The more than 6,000 graduates contributed immeasurably to the American victory over Imperial Japan and to winning the peace that followed. (General Charles Willoughby credited Aiso's MIS graduates with shortening the war by two years and saving close to a million lives.)][
After the Allied victory in August 1945, Aiso refocused the MISLS curriculum to prepare students for roles in the ]occupation of Japan
Japan was occupied and administered by the victorious Allies of World War II from the 1945 surrender of the Empire of Japan at the end of the war until the
Treaty of San Francisco took effect in 1952. The occupation, led by the United States ...
. In January 1946, he would transfer to Gen Douglas MacArthur
Douglas MacArthur (26 January 18805 April 1964) was an American military leader who served as General of the Army for the United States, as well as a field marshal to the Philippine Army. He had served with distinction in World War I, was ...
's staff as a legal assistant under MacArthur's G-2 chief, Gen Charles A. Willoughby
Charles Andrew Willoughby (March 8, 1892 – October 25, 1972) was a major general in the U.S. Army, serving as General Douglas MacArthur's chief of intelligence during most of World War II and the Korean War.
Early life and education
Willough ...
, working in the investigation and enforcement of the political purge dictated by the Potsdam Declaration
The Potsdam Declaration, or the Proclamation Defining Terms for Japanese Surrender, was a statement that called for the surrender of all Japanese armed forces during World War II. On July 26, 1945, United States President Harry S. Truman, Uni ...
. Aiso was released from active duty and returned to Los Angeles in February 1947, returning to private law practice .[ He would later be promoted to a ]colonel
Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge ...
in the Army Reserve
A military reserve force is a military organization whose members have military and civilian occupations. They are not normally kept under arms, and their main role is to be available when their military requires additional manpower. Reserve ...
, before retiring in 1965.[
In 1950, he received an honorary master's degree from Brown University.][Honorary Degrees]
" from Martha Mitchell's ''Encyclopedia Brunoniana'' In 1952, he served as a Superior Court Commissioner for one year. Aiso was then appointed to the Los Angeles Municipal Court in 1953, where he served until he was elevated to the Los Angeles Superior Court in 1957. He was the first Japanese American
are Americans of Japanese ancestry. Japanese Americans were among the three largest Asian American ethnic communities during the 20th century; but, according to the 2000 census, they have declined in number to constitute the sixth largest Asi ...
to enter the California State Judiciary when then Governor Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan ( ; February 6, 1911June 5, 2004) was an American politician, actor, and union leader who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He also served as the 33rd governor of California from 1967 ...
appointed Aiso as an associate justice of the California Court of Appeal
The California Courts of Appeal are the state intermediate appellate courts in the U.S. state of California. The state is geographically divided along county lines into six appellate districts. , Second Appellate District, on November 4, 1968.
Awards and accolades
President Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson (; August 27, 1908January 22, 1973), often referred to by his initials LBJ, was an American politician who served as the 36th president of the United States from 1963 to 1969. He had previously served as the 37th vice ...
awarded him the Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the eight u ...
in 1965 for his service during World War II. In 1984, the Emperor of Japan
The Emperor of Japan is the monarch and the head of the Imperial Family of Japan. Under the Constitution of Japan, he is defined as the symbol of the Japanese state and the unity of the Japanese people, and his position is derived from "the ...
awarded him the 3rd Class Order of the Rising Sun
The is a Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese government, created on 10 April 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge features rays of sunlight f ...
for his contributions to understanding and friendship between the United States and Japan. He was inducted into the Military Intelligence Corps Hall of Fame in 1991.[ The Aiso Library at the ]Defense Language Institute
The Defense Language Institute (DLI) is a United States Department of Defense (DoD) educational and research institution consisting of two separate entities which provide linguistic and cultural instruction to the Department of Defense, other ...
(DLI) Foreign Language Center is named in his honor for his contributions as the chief instructor of MISLS, the predecessor of DLI. In the Little Tokyo community of Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world ...
, a one-block segment of San Pedro Street
San Pedro Street is a major north–south thoroughfare in Los Angeles, California, running from Little Tokyo in Downtown Los Angeles to West Rancho Dominguez.
San Pedro Street was one of the earliest roadways, along with Alameda Street, between ...
between Temple Boulevard and 1st Street has been renamed Judge John Aiso Street in his honor.
Death
John Aiso died December 29, 1987, from a head injury sustained in an attempted mugging. Aiso, 78, was filling his car at a Hollywood gas station when he was attacked and knocked to the pavement; he died two weeks later in a Burbank hospital.
See also
*List of Asian American jurists
Research history
Studies led by California Supreme Court Justice Goodwin Liu (2017) and the Center for American Progress (2019) Full report: provided in-depth statistics into the issue.
Judicial officers
This is a dynamic list of Asian Ameri ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aiso, John F.
1909 births
1987 deaths
20th-century American lawyers
20th-century American judges
American jurists of Japanese descent
American military personnel of Japanese descent
California state court judges
Brown University alumni
Deaths by beating in the United States
Harvard Law School alumni
Hollywood High School alumni
Male murder victims
Military personnel from California
Municipal judges in the United States
People from Burbank, California
People murdered in California
Recipients of the Legion of Merit
Recipients of the Order of the Rising Sun, 3rd class
Superior court judges in the United States
United States Army colonels
United States Army personnel of World War II