Photos: UCLA’s Japanese American honorees

UCLA professor Don Nakanishi, right, checks the leis worn by Yuri Lily Nemoto, left, and Herbert Takashi Murayama. They were among 48 Japanese Americans who were awarded honorary degrees, some posthumously, because their education at UCLA was stopped in February 1942 when federal orders sent them to internment camps.  (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)

Masaye Nagao Nakamura is happy to get an honorary diploma.  (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)

Michiko Doihara Tamaki, left, gets help from her daughter, Jeanne Tamaki, as she prepares for a special ceremony to receive an honorary degree.  (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)

Fumio Robert Naka delivers a speech at the graduation ceremony. Naka, 86, who was a UCLA student when he was sent to the Manzanar internment camp in the Owens Valley, said the experience taught a lesson in how humans can persevere when confronted with events “beyond our control.”  (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)

Masaye Nagao Nakamura poses for a photo with UCLA Chancellor Gene Block after receiving her honorary degree.  (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)

Misao Natsumeda Okada looks at a program for the honorary degree ceremony.  (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)

Toshio Matsumoto gets ready backstage. “It’s been a long time coming. I never thought it would happen,” said the retired electrical engineer from Sacramento.  (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)

Crystal Ikeda, 28, captures the moment on camera. Her grandfather, Fred Kanichi Ikeda, was a UCLA student when he was sent to the internment camps in 1942.  (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)

Sally Kusayanagi takes a group photo with other Japanese Americans who received honorary degrees at UCLA.  (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)

A photo is taken of the 19 Japanese Americans who attended the UCLA ceremony. “It feels great,” says one of the honorees.  (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)