Yamada, Mitsuye (1923–)
Yamada, Mitsuye (1923–)
Japanese-born American writer. Name variations: Mitsuye May Yamada; Mitsuye Yasutaka Yamada. Born in Fukouka, Japan, July 5, 1923; came to US, 1926, and raised in Seattle, Washington; naturalized citizen, 1955; dau. of Jack Kaichiro Yasutake (interpreter) and Hide (Shiraki) Yasutake (seamstress); New York University, BA, 1947; University of Chicago, MA, 1953; further graduate study at University of Chicago and University of California, Irvine; m. Yoshikazu Yamada (research chemist); children: Jeni, Stephen, Douglas, Hedi.
During WWII, was held with family at the Minidoka Relocation Center in Idaho (1942–44); began teaching as an instructor at Cypress College in California (1966); joined faculty of Fullerton College as an instructor (1970), becoming associate professor (1976) and coordinator of the women's program; served as writer-in-residence at Pitzer College and San Diego University; published Camp Notes and Other Poems (1976), about the years spent at the Idaho camp; also published Desert Run: Poems and Stories (1989); contributed to various literary magazines, including Velvet Wings, Willmore City and Plexus; with Nellie Wong, collaborated on "Mitsuye and Nellie: Two Asian-American Women Poets," a biographical documentary made for public tv (1981); served on national board of Amnesty International USA.