Eric Yamamoto (publishing as Eric K. Yamamoto), the Korematsu Professor of Law and Social Justice[1] at the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, is an internationally recognized[2] expert on issues of racial justice, including racial reconciliation and redress.
[7] Yamamoto worked on Korematsu v. United States, a landmark United States Supreme Court case that challenged the constitutionality of Executive Order 9066 during World War II which led to the internment of 120,000 Japanese Americans from California, the Pacific Northwest, and the Territory of Alaska.
[2][8][9][10] As a member of Fred Korematsu's legal team, Yamamoto provided co-counsel for his 1983 coram nobis petition, successfully challenging the constitutionality of his conviction for resisting internment,[11] resulting in Korematsu's original conviction being overturned.
[2] Among his other writings, Yamamoto is the award-winning[12] author and coauthor of two books: As well as the sole author of one book about the Korematsu case: In 2012, the Consortium of Asian-American Law Professors created a national award in Yamamoto's name, "The Professor Eric Y. Yamamoto Emerging Scholar Award," in recognition of his "exemplary scholarship in racial justice and inspiration to emerging scholars.
"[16][17] The award is to be granted annually to a United States law professor that is early in career who demonstrates outstanding promise.