Clarence Iwao Nishizu, 95; Advocated Redress for World War II Internees

Clarence Iwao Nishizu, 95, a longtime Japanese American community leader in Orange County who campaigned for redress for World War II internees, died Jan. 25 of pneumonia at a Fullerton convalescent home, his family said.

Himself a World War II internee, Nishizu was awarded an honorary doctorate by Cal State Fullerton in 1999 for his leadership activities. He was a prominent member of the Japanese American Citizens League and also helped raise $750,000 for construction of the Orange County Agricultural and Nikkei Heritage Museum at the university, scheduled to open March 21.

“He wanted to help unify and retain Japanese American culture,” said his daughter, Carol Matsuoka, who was born at Heart Mountain internment camp in Wyoming after her parents were relocated there in 1943.

Nishizu moved from Los Angeles with his parents to Garden Grove in 1917. At 21, he took over his father’s debt-laden farm during the Depression. After internment, he worked on a farm in San Clemente, then turned to selling real estate. He moved to Fullerton in 1962.