Led by Judge Denny Chin and Kathy Hirata Chin, the AABANY Trial Reenactment team performed “This Land Is Our Land: Oyama v. California” on May 31, 2017 at Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft in celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. The 1948 Supreme Court case explored the ways in which denial of property rights also served to promote racial discrimination against the Japanese in California. In the case, Kajiro Oyama, a Japanese immigrant who was ineligible for United States citizenship at the time, bought a parcel of farm land which he deeded to his minor son Fred, who was born in the United States and was thus a citizen. Under the Alien Land Laws, this transaction was deemed a fraud and the State of California brought suit against Fred Oyama to escheat the property. To learn more about this reenactment and others, visit the AABANY Trial Reenactments website.

We’d like to thank Judge Chin, Kathy, every cast member, every audience member, and Cadwalader for hosting the event and reception. This is the sixth reenactment that Cadwalader has hosted for APA Heritage Month, with over 300 RSVPs. In the audience were:

• Prof. Rose Cuison Villazor
• Deputy Consul General of the Consulate-General of Japan in New York, Masahi Mizobuchi
• Hon. Noel Brennan, Immigration Court
• Hon. Marilyn D. Go, USMJ, EDNY

You can also check out the New York Law Journal’s coverage and social media about the event.

Thank you to Kevin Hsi for the above cast photo.