Prior to his service in the Assembly, Nakano served as a Torrance, California city councilman for 14 years.
[1] He spent time in the Jerome and Tule Lake internment camps during World War II, following the signing of Executive Order 9066.
[2][3] He served in the California Air National Guard for six years before being honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant in 1960.
[1] Nakano attended El Camino College before going to California State University, Los Angeles for his Bachelor of Science degree.
He also received a master's degree in education from California State University, Los Angeles.