Consul-General Fukushima joined a regional dedication ceremony for the “Go For Broke: Japanese American Soldiers of WWII Commemorative Stamp” (June 4, 2021)

On June 4, Consul-General Fukushima attended the Houston Regional Stamp Dedication Ceremony hosted by the Holocaust Museum Houston. A celebration of the issuance of a commemorative stamp for second generation Japanese-Americans, "Go for Broke" was hosted by the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) Houston Chapter. The museum works closely with Japanese-Americans, and Congressman Al Green and members of both Houses of the State Legislature, Jean Wu and John Rosenthal, also attended this event.

Branch manager Gary Nakamura and Director Linda Toyota represented the local JACL. Mr. Nakamura explained the path taken by his father, who was a second-generation American soldier, and the complicated social situation of Japanese-Americans during the war. He proudly spoke of the sacrifices made for the nation by and merits of the courageous Nisei (the second-generation) soldiers in the face of adversity, which are now coming to light again in the form of commemorative stamps.

Consul General Fukushima commended the persistent advocation and lobbying by the JACL to achieve its goal of having this commemorative stamp issued in the milestone year of the 80th anniversary of the start of the Pacific War. He also acknowledged that what we learned from the heroic tale of the "Go for Broke" 442nd is that it is important to stand up against the cause of all prejudices and to confront racism head-on. He praised the tale for its timeless inspiration, especially relevant in this day and age when hate crimes against Asians are prevalent.