Draft:Shoichi James Okamoto

Tule Lake Segregation Center where Shoichi James Okamoto was shot and killed.

Shoichi James Okamoto (1914-1944) was a Japanese-American incarcerated at the Tule Lake Segregation Center. His name rose to prominence through his wrongful death, where a Tule Lake sentry shot and killed him after asking him for his pass, and the sentry was only fined $1 for the bullet fired. His death marked a change in the WRA's sentiment toward Japanese-Americans, allowing a public funeral and releasing a general statement of grief in the aftermath. There were no further homicides in the WRA camps after his death.

Early Life

Shoichi James Okamoto was born June 12, 1914, in Garden Grove, California, and had many siblings. His mother was セキヨ (Sekiyo) Okamoto, and his father was 德一郞 (Tokuichiro) Okamoto. In September of 1920, Shoichi began his education at Harbor City Elementary School. He then graduated and entered Lomita High School of Los Angeles County while also attending Japanese language school. Upon graduation from high school, Shoichi James worked alongside his father on his farm and also operated his own transfer business. He was then employed by S.K. Market in Los Angeles until December of 1941 when the war began. On May 15, 1942, Okamoto was taken to the Pomona Assembly Center where he was then transferred to Heart Mountain Relocation Center. At the Heart Mountain Relocation Center, he applied for expatriation. On September 24, 1943, he was transferred to Tule Lake, and beginning in October of that same year, he began working as a truck driver in the Motor Pool and was assigned to the Construction Department at the segregation center.

Tule Lake Segregation Center Incident

Okamoto was an internee at the Tule Lake Segregation Center, presumably for quite a while. On the afternoon of May 24, 1944, the shooting occurred. Okamoto was driving truck #100-41 full of lumbar at the order of his construction supervisor between the out-of-camp worksite and the camp itself. One of the witnesses to the incident was Henry Shiohama, who accompanied Okamoto in the truck that day. Other witnesses include boys from a nearby heavy equipment crew. A supposed newer sentry was on duty that day and had already let Okamoto pass through to leave. However, upon return, the sentry demanded Okamoto show his pass again and ordered him out of the truck. As Okamoto left the car with the door open, the sentry came around with the rifle. Some accounts say Okamoto refused to show his pass again, which caused the sentry to strike him on the right shoulder using the butt end of the rifle. Okamoto backed up, and the two exchanged words when the sentry fired without warning. Witnesses immediately called an ambulance for Okamoto's medical assistance. Despite medical procedures performed, Okamoto died the next day, on May 25, 1944, from his injuries.

Life after death

Following his death on May 26, 1944, a public funeral was arranged by many groups within the Tule Lake Segregation Center to be held on May 31. The wake was on May 30, and around 1,200 people attended. The funeral had an astonishing 6,000 people attend. This marked the first Japanese death, where the WRA approved a public funeral. The camp director released a general statement of grief, reporting the status of Okamoto and calling for an investigation. Reports say he expressed sympathy to and even visited members of the family as well. They also provided the family with two automobiles for them to use to visit other family members. The murder of Shoichi James Okamoto is now noted as a significant instigator of detainee action taken against the government within the camp.