Marii Hasegawa (1918-2012) dedicated her life to diplomacy and social work. Her story is a reminder that a lifetime in the pursuit of peace is a humbling task we must choose to take up every day.
Marii Hasegawa (1918-2012) dedicated her life to diplomacy and social work. Her story is a reminder that a lifetime in the pursuit of peace is a humbling task we must choose to take up every day.
Women’s contributions to peacekeeping efforts are often overlooked, but no more. This month on Womanica we're highlighting women who have spearheaded peacekeeping initiatives all over the world — from India to South Africa to the United States. We cover women like Doria Shafik who led Egypt’s female liberation movement, as well as Coretta Scott King who was a fierce advocate for equality for Black Americans and a leader in the Civil Rights Movement. Tune in to hear the stories of women who were integral to creating peace in their communities.
History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wondering... where were all the ladies at? Why were so many incredible stories missing from the typical curriculum? Enter, Womanica. On this Wonder Media Network podcast we explore the lives of inspiring women in history you may not know about, but definitely should.
Every weekday, listeners explore the trials, tragedies, and triumphs of groundbreaking women throughout history who have dramatically shaped the world around us. In each 5 minute episode, we’ll dive into the story behind one woman listeners may or may not know–but definitely should. These diverse women from across space and time are grouped into easily accessible and engaging monthly themes like Educators, Villains, Indigenous Storytellers, Activists, and many more. Womanica is hosted by WMN co-founder and award-winning journalist Jenny Kaplan. The bite-sized episodes pack painstakingly researched content into fun, entertaining, and addictive daily adventures.
Womanica was created by Liz Kaplan and Jenny Kaplan, executive produced by Jenny Kaplan, and produced by Liz Smith, Grace Lynch, Maddy Foley, Brittany Martinez, Edie Allard, Lindsey Kratochwill, Adesuwa Agbonile, Carmen Borca-Carrillo, Taylor Williamson, Ale Tejeda, Sara Schleede, Abbey Delk, and Alex Jhamb Burns. Special thanks to Shira Atkins.
Original theme music composed by Miles Moran.
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Hello! From Wonder Media Network, I’m Meltem Burak. I’m the host and producer of the podcast Sesta. We aim to harness the power of arts and culture to foster conversation and build peace in Cyprus. I’ll be your guest host for this month of Womanica.
This month, we’re highlighting Peacebuilders. In times of conflict, these women stepped in, bringing their creativity and insight to help facilitate peace across the globe.
Today, we’re talking about a woman whose life was studded with historical moments. She dedicated her life to diplomacy and social work– though it’s unlikely you’ve heard her name. Her story is a reminder that a lifetime in the pursuit of peace is a humbling task we must choose to take up every day.
Let’s meet Marii Hasegawa.
Marii was born on September 17, 1918. She spent the very beginning of her life in a small village near the seaside outside of Hiroshima, Japan. Her father was a Buddhist priest in their family temple. When Marii was still a baby, the family moved across the Pacific to Los Angeles, California. There, her father continued his work supporting the Buddhist Japanese community in the area.
Marii spent her formative years of childhood in California. And when it was time for college, she attended the University of California at Berkeley. In 1938, she graduated with a degree in home economics.
But in 1942, whatever plans Marii had for her future were thrown to the wayside. World War II came to U.S. shores, and President Franklin Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066. It authorized the immediate evacuation of alleged “threats to national security” from the West Coast. We now know that this mass-incarceration campaign was the result of racism that had been brewing since the bombing of Pearl Harbor. In just six months, more than 100,000 people of Japanese ancestry were moved to internment camps inland.
Among them: Marii’s family.
Marii and her family were forcibly taken to the Topaz Relocation Center, in Utah. The barracks there were barely ready when the incarcerated Japanese-Americans arrived. Many of them actually had to help finish the construction of the buildings and furniture– which included minimal amenities like pot-bellied stoves and army cots. Armed guards circled the perimeter.
In the dismal conditions of Topaz, Marii strove to create community. She served as a social worker and wrote for the camp’s literary quarterly. Marii’s degree and skills also meant she could find work outside the camp. She was released to Cleveland, Ohio, and from there moved to Philadelphia, where she moved in with her college roommates.
The effects of World War II would linger for Marii. In 1945, the U.S. dropped the atomic bombs on Nagasaki and the town near Marii’s birthplace – Hiroshima. The violence and loss of life made the tragedy of war even more potent and present.
On the east coast, Marii worked in the Food, Tobacco, and Agricultural Workers Union. She also met Ichiro Hasegawa, who’d also made his way east from another relocation center. They married in 1946, and eventually moved to Richmond, Virginia, to start a family.
At home, Marii was a Girl Scout Leader and a PTA president. But she was also seeking peace on an international level. She joined the National Board of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, and served as its president during the final years of the Vietnam War.
In 1973, Marii set off on a trip to Hanoi with an international delegation of women. The goal was to understand the extent of damage the war had wrought on the women and children of Vietnam.
It was illegal at the time for Americans to travel to North Vietnam, so Marii used her Japanese passport. It was a risky decision– thanks to ongoing political unrest in the states, there wasn’t a guarantee Marii would actually be able to re-enter the U.S. when she returned. Even with her family waiting at home, she took the risk. She had to make this trip.
And it was a good thing she did. What Marii saw on her trip to Hanoi bolstered her dedication to furthering peace. When she returned home, she was back to work by day. Then, each day, after eight hours of work, she went home and wrote letters and reports to distribute to allies and organizations. On the weekends, she traveled around the country to spread the information she’d learned in Vietnam.
Everything and anything she could do towards ending the war was vital. It finally ended in 1975, two years after her trip.
In 1996, at 77 years old, Marii traveled to Tokyo to receive the Niwano Peace Prize. It’s usually given out to people who have contributed inter-religious cooperation in the cause of world peace. Marii gave a humbled speech in acceptance.
In 2001, Marii moved to a retirement center in Massachusetts, where she stayed active in current affairs, book groups, and the village choir. She died on July 1, 2012.
Much of the information we know about Marii comes from her obituary, lovingly written by her daughter. Marii led a successful career as a peacemaker. And her work was recognized on the international stage. And like many women, she led a full life additionally – a tennis fan, a mystery story aficionado, and a mother who traveled with her family. In one article, Marii’s daughter described her as quietly steadfast – and thank goodness she was. We’re all the better for her tenacity for peace.
All month, we’re talking about peacebuilders. For more information, find us on Facebook and Instagram @womanicapodcast.
Special thanks to co-creators Jenny and Liz Kaplan for having me on as a guest host.
Talk to you tomorrow!