The History of Japanese Racism, Japanese American Redress, and the Dangers Associated with Government Regulation of Hate Speech

This Article analyzes the historical roots of the Japanese government's rhetoric of racial supremacy that merged with nationalist agendas to rationalize and promote Japanese colonial aggression, military ventures, and brutal rule in Asia in the first half of the twentieth century. Next, this Article examines the movement in the U.S. to obtain redress for Japanese Americans who suffered mass removal and incarceration during World War II. This Article explores why grassroots activism and political lobbying succeeded in obtaining the passage of American redress legislation in 1988 and the possible lessons of this campaign for other victims of government policies. Finally, this Article concludes by discussing how the history of government racism in the U.S. and Japan portends possible dangers associated with increasing government power to regulate hate speech that might limit the freedom of speech, especially speech critical of the government.