Spark Matsunaga

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Spark Masayuki Matsunaga (Japanese: スパーク・マツナガ) (October 8, 1916 - April 15, 1990) was a United States Senator from Hawaii. He was born in Hawaii and died in Canada. He was a Japanese-American Democrat whose legislation as a United States Senator led to the creation of the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians.

He became a United States Army Reservist in 1941 and became an active member in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1962 and served there until 1976. Matsunaga went on to serve in the United States Senate from 1977 until his death at the age of 73 from prostate cancer in 1990. His portrait currently appears on US Series I Bonds in the $10,000 denomination.

Sen. Sparky Matsunaga is also known for his sense of humor. One famous incident occurred at a reception for a visiting Japanese prime minister held at the White House in 1981 involving Sen. Matsunaga and Alexander Haig, Secretary of State at the time. Being an Asian-American, Sen. Matsunaga was mistaken by Haig who thought Matsunaga was a member of the Japanese delegation; Haig asked Sparky if he spoke English. Sparky replied, "Yes, Mr. Secretary, I do -- and I had the honor of voting for your confirmation the other day.^[1]" Although this incident appeared to be a careless misunderstanding, many Asian American communities take the incident as an example of racial prejudice in the US society. Sen. Matsunaga became a well-known figure in Asia as the incident is often cited by Asian-American and Asian media.^[2][3]

[edit] Notes

1. ^ SPARKY: Warrior, Peacemaker, Poet, Patriot. A Portrait of Senator Spark M. Matsunaga, by Richard Halloran. Honolulu: Matsunaga Charitable Foundation, 2002, 259 pp., paper
2. ^ Committee of 100 and its relationship between China and Taiwan
3. ^ Being a grandfather of an American

[edit] External links

• Congressional biography
• Spark M. Matsunaga biography United States Institute of Peace.
• Spark M. Matsunaga's published biography Sparky: Warrior, Peacemaker, Poet, Patriot by Richard Halloran. ISBN 0-9720932-1-4.

Preceded by (none)	U.S. Representative from Hawaii's 2nd Congressional District 1963–1977	Succeeded by Daniel K. Akaka
Preceded by Hiram Fong	United States Senator (Class 1) from Hawaii 1977–1990 Served alongside: Daniel Inouye	Succeeded by Daniel K. Akaka