Lawrence Matsuda was born in the Minidoka, Idaho Concentration Camp during World War II.

He and his family were among the approximately 120,000 Japanese Americans and Japanese held without due process for approximately three years or more. Matsuda has a Ph.D. in education from the University of Washington. His book of poetry, A Cold Wind from Idaho was published by Black Lawrence Press in New York, and his new book, Glimpses of a Forever Foreigner, was released in August of 2014. It is collaboration between Matsuda and artist Roger Shimomura.