Oral Histories

Interview of John F. Aiso

Lawyer and judge. Director and head instructor of the Military Intelligence Service Language School. Justice of the 2nd District Court of Appeals.
Subtitle:
Observations of a California Nisei
Series:
Z: Orphan Interviews pre 1999
Topic:
Asian American History
Politics and Government
Biographical Note:
Lawyer and judge. Director and head instructor of the Military Intelligence Service Language School. Justice of the 2nd District Court of Appeals.
Interviewer:
Landy, Marc
Interviewee:
Aiso, John Fujio
Place Conducted:
Aiso's home in Los Angeles, California.
Supporting Documents:
Records relating to the interview are located in the office of the UCLA Library's Center for Oral History Research.
Interviewer Background and Preparation:
The interview was conducted by Marc Landy, Instructor in Social Sciences, Alice Lloyd College, Pippa Passes, Kentucky; Director, Alice Lloyd-Lee's Junior College Appalachian Oral History Program; Intern, UCLA Oral History Program, July-August, 1970.
Processing of Interview:
The editing was done by the interviewer during August 1970. The verbatim transcription of the interviews was checked against the original tape recordings. Editing consisted of minor changes in spelling, grammar, punctuation and syntax. The material is presented in the order it was spoken on the tape. Aiso reviewed the edited transcript during August 1970 and made additional corrections (particularly spelling of Japanese names) and made occasional changes in the interest of greater clarity.The index was prepared by Winston Wutkee, Editor-Interviewer, UCLA Oral History Program.
Length:
3 hrs.
Language:
English
Copyright:
Regents of the University of California, UCLA Library.
Abstract:
Childhood in Burbank and Hollywood; family background in Japan and California; schooling in Los Angeles; education at Brown University and Harvard Law School; practice of law in New York City, 1935; work as legal representative for British and American firms in Tokyo and Manchuria, 1936-40; return to Los Angeles; induction into U.S. Army, 1941; World War II military service as Japanese language instructor; assignment to Civil Intelligence Section in Japan during occupation; return to civilian status, 1947; legal practice in Los Angeles; judge, municipal court, 1953-57; elevation to Superior Court, Los Angeles County, 1957; cordial relationship with Chief Justice Earl Warren.