Born: 1916 (Los Angeles, California)
Biography:
Iva Ikuko Toguri D’Aquino, also known as Tokyo Rose, was a Japanese-American disc jockey and radio personality who played a unique role in World War II. She was born on July 4, 1916, in Los Angeles, California, to Japanese immigrant parents. Toguri grew up in a multicultural environment and attended Compton High School before graduating from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1940 with a degree in zoology.
In 1941, Toguri sailed to Japan from Los Angeles to visit a sick relative, but her return was cut off by the attack on Pearl Harbor in December of that year. Despite her efforts to regain her US citizenship, the State Department refused to certify her citizenship in 1942, leaving her stranded in Japan.
Toguri’s life changed dramatically when the Japanese central government pressured her to renounce her US citizenship with the beginning of American involvement in the Pacific War. As a result, she was forced to work for Radio Tokyo and became a host for the English-language radio broadcasts targeting Allied troops in the South Pacific. Toguri went by the name Orphan Ann but became misidentified as Tokyo Rose by Allied soldiers.
After the surrender of Japan, Toguri was detained by the United States military for a year before being released due to lack of evidence. Despite the Department of Justice acknowledging that her broadcasts were harmless, her attempts to return to the US were met with public outrage. This led the Federal Bureau of Investigation to reopen an investigation into her wartime activities.
Subsequently, Toguri was charged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office with eight counts of treason. Her 1949 trial resulted in a conviction on one count, and she was sentenced to ten years in prison. Toguri spent more than six years behind bars before her release. In the years following her trial, journalists and investigators discovered numerous irregularities in her indictment, trial, and conviction, including confessions from witnesses who had perjured themselves during their testimonies.
In 1977, Iva Toguri finally received a pardon from then-U.S. President Gerald Ford, putting an end to her long and arduous battle for justice. She spent the remainder of her life speaking out about her experiences and advocating for the rights of both Japanese-Americans and women.
Iva Toguri D’Aquino’s story is a complex one that highlights the challenges faced by individuals caught in the crossfire of geopolitics and war. Her resilience, determination, and fight for justice continue to inspire and serve as a reminder of the importance of preserving historical accuracy and the struggles of women in history.