Mich Matsudaira

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Mich Matsudaira, born Martin Mitsuyuki Matsudaira on November 12, 1937, in Seattle, Washington, and known as Mitch Matsudaira, was an American businessman and civil rights activist. He was the son of Japanese immigrants and the brother of artist John Matsudaira. He and his family were interned during World War II after Executive Order 9066, returning to Seattle in 1945. He went to Immaculate Conception Elementary and O’Dea High School, served in the U.S. Air Force as a refueling specialist from 1955 to 1960, and earned a BA in economics from the University of Washington in 1965 and an MA in public administration from Seattle University in 1977. He married Ruth Matsumoto in 1962; they later divorced in 1988, and they had four children.

Matsudaira worked at Boeing as an industrial engineer and manager before becoming executive director of the Governor’s Asian American Advisory Council in 1972. In 1976, he helped witness President Gerald Ford sign a proclamation undoing Executive Order 9066. He opened Mich’s Men’s Shop on Seattle’s Jackson Street in 1976, later moving to Belltown and Pioneer Square before closing the shop in 1990. He then returned to Boeing as a financial analyst and was recognized for twenty years of service in 2002, retiring on March 1, 2003.

In addition to his work at Boeing, Matsudaira was active in civil rights. He led the Governor’s Asian American Advisory Council, served on a state committee reviewing minority employment opportunities, and spoke at events promoting Asian American awareness. He was president of the Seattle chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League in 1979 and supported the National Council for Japanese American Redress. He was involved in a controversy over a Minidoka replica tower plan, which led to the decision not to attend the dedication and the plan being abandoned. Mich Matsudaira died on March 24, 2019.