Dennis M. Ogawa

In 2016 he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, 3rd class (Gold Rays with neck ribbon).

He accepted a position as an associate professor in the Department of American Studies in 1971 and was promoted to professor in 1978, a position which he still holds today. Ogawa was graduate chair of American studies from 2001 to 2003 and chair of American studies from 2003 to 2007.

Dennis Masaaki Ogawa received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1969 where he was honored as one of the founders of the UCLA Asian American Studies Center. He is a professor and former chair at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, American Studies Department and his teaching and research interests are in the area of Japanese American Studies, Television and Ethnic Identity, and Multicultural Studies. He is the president and CEO of Nippon Golden Network.

After completing his graduate work at UCLA, Ogawa came to the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 1969 as an assistant professor in the Speech Department. Stemming from his interest in Japanese American studies, he helped establish the Department of Ethnic Studies at UH and served as its director from its inception in 1970 to 1972.

In 1966, Ogawa received his B.A. in communication from the University of California, Los Angeles. He received his M.A. in 1967 and a Ph.D. in 1969; while completing his doctorate, he helped to found the UCLA's Asian American Studies Center.

After the camps were closed, the Ogawa family returned to their home in Santa Monica, California. He attended John Adams Middle School and Santa Monica High School, graduating in 1961.

Ogawa was born on September 7, 1943, to Frank and Alice Ogawa while they were interned in Manzanar Relocation Center in Owen's Valley, one of ten Japanese American internment camps during World War II.