05/18/2026
Kyoko Nancy Oda, born in a World War II concentration camp in the United States, was filled with the strength of a generation shaped by hardship, resilience, and dignity. She had ties to, and guided many an organization in the Japanese American community. She was one of the founding members of the World War II Camp Wall nonprofit. Kyoko was of a generation that transformed pain into perseverance, and her spirit, emphasis on culture, and optimism made her a natural born leader in the community.
Kyoko helped preserve the stories that history must never forget. She worked hard to have her father's diary, The Tule Lake Stockade Diary, tranlated from Japanese to English, and to have it published for all to be exposed to his life imprisoned at Tule Lake during World War II.
Her life stands as a reminder that injustice that negatively affects generations, can also inspire one toward the pursuit of a better world. Kyoko carried forward traditions, memories, and values that connected past to future, ensuring that younger generations would understand both the cost of prejudice and the power of resilience.
Today we remember Kyoko Oda for how she lived — with dignity, perseverance, and heart. Her legacy lives on in so many ways and her life and values are embedded in so many today, and will continue to inspire courage, strength, and "community" for generations to come.
