Japanese-American Chair

Your article of Japan’s new philanthropy in America (Sept. 15) raised some interesting points, but through some misinformation (supplied by UCLA) incorrectly attributes the funding of the UCLA Endowed Chair in Japanese American Studies to Japanese corporations.

The chair for research and study on the Japanese-American experience in America was established through the donations of more than 300 Japanese-American alumni and friends of UCLA. Donors did not include Japanese corporations.

The UCLA Alumni and Friends of Japanese Ancestry has long been an important group to UCLA. The organization also was extensively involved in the fund-raising efforts to build UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion and the James West Alumni Center.

As individuals and through organizations, Japanese-Americans have established a history of giving back to our alma mater and to our community. It is crucial to us, therefore, that when we raised funds to create opportunities for our young people to study our ancestry, proper recognition be given.

HERBERT G. KAWAHARA

Trustee, UCLA Foundation