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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
World
Caitlin Yoshiko Kandil in Oakland, California

Think reparations are impossible? The story of Japanese Americans proves otherwise

Don Tamaki holds family photos, news clippings, and a check from Japanese American reparations.
Don Tamaki holds family photos, news clippings, and a check from Japanese American reparations. Photograph: Carolyn Fong/The Guardian

Kay Ochi still remembers the small, brown envelope her family received from the US Department of Justice more than 30 years ago.

It looked like any other piece of official government mail, with a Washington DC postmark. But inside was a printed letter, signed by President George HW Bush – and two checks for $20,000, one for each of her parents.

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