Jimmy Tsutomu Mirikitani

When California-born Jimmy Tsutomu Mirikitani returned to the United States from Hiroshima, Japan, at age eighteen, his goals were to escape Imperial Japan’s rising militarism and continue his training in art. WWII severely altered his course in life, however, as his unlawful detention by the US government at Tule Lake, California; Crystal City, Texas; and Seabrook Farms, New Jersey, lasted until 1947. Having renounced his American citizenship in protest of this injustice, Mirikitani was left to find odd jobs in the post-war years, living on the East Coast. It was not until the 1980s that Mirikitani returned to making art, when he was unemployed and homeless in New York City. Using cast-off materials found in the streets, he created and sold drawings and collages, many portraying events related to his past. In 2001, Mirikitani met filmmaker Linda Hattendorf, who provided him with temporary shelter in the aftermath of 9/11 and assistance with the restoration of his U.S. citizenship and Social Security. Her documentary film about the artist, The Cats of Mirikitani (2006), brought wide public attention to Mirikitani’s life and artwork, leading to a nationally traveling exhibition organized by the Wing Luke Museum of Seattle, Washington.

Authored by Anna Lee, curatorial assistant for Asian American art, 2025.