For the past handful of years, professional photographers Geri Ferguson and Mark Kirchner, who had already been photographing the annual Manzanar Pilgrimage for years, have been kind enough to share their incredible photographs with us, and they’ve done so again this year.
Indeed, they shot some gorgeous and powerful photographs of the 48th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage on April 29, 2017.
In case you missed it, we previously published some rather amateur photographs in comparison. You can see those in 48th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage/2017 Manzanar At Dusk – In Photos.
Enjoy!
LEAD PHOTO: Rev. Alfred Tsuyuki of the Konko Church of Los Angeles performs the Shinto purification rite to open the interfaith service during the 48th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage on Saturday, April 29, 2017, at the Manzanar National Historic Site. Photo: Mark Kirchner/Manzanar Committee.
48th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage
167 photos by Geri Ferguson and Mark Kirchner; ©2017 Manzanar Committee. All rights reserved. Click on any photo to view a larger image, and to scroll/click through the gallery.
Manzanar National HIstoric SIte staff member Dave Goto
Members of the Venice Japanese American Memorial Marker Committee
Members of the Venice Japanese American Memorial Marker Committee
Members of the Venice Japanese American Memorial Marker Committee
Manzanar Committee’s Kerry Cababa (left) with former Manzanar NHS Superintendent Tom Leatherman (right)
From left: Ken Koshio, Bruce Embrey and Rev. Paul Nakamura
Manzanar Committee member Kerry Cababa (right) speaking with Consul General of Japan (Los Angeles) Akira Chiba (left)
Manzanar Committee Co-Chair Bruce Embrey (left)
From left: David Fujioka, Takashi Hoshizaki, Dale Kunitomi
That’s Manzanar Committee and Manzanar Pilgrimage co-founder Warren Furutani (right)
Manzanar Committee member Jonathan Lee
Japanese folk musician Ken Koshio (left)
Japanese folk musician Ken Koshio
UCLA Kyodo Taiko prepares for their performance
UCLA Kyodo Taiko members having some fun before their performance.
UCLA Kyodo Taiko prepares for their performance
UCLA Kyodo Taiko
UCLA Kyodo Taiko
UCLA Kyodo Taiko
UCLA Kyodo Taiko
UCLA Kyodo Taiko
UCLA Kyodo Taiko
UCLA Kyodo Taiko
UCLA Kyodo Taiko
UCLA Kyodo Taiko
UCLA Kyodo Taiko
UCLA Kyodo Taiko
Japanese folk musician Ken Koshio
Japanese folk musician Ken Koshio
Japanese folk musician Ken Koshio
Banners representing the 10 American concentration camps, the Crystal City Internment Camp, and the 442nd/100th/MIS.
Banners representing the 10 American concentration camps, the Crystal City Internment Camp, and the 442nd/100th/MIS during a processional to the stage
Banners representing the 10 American concentration camps, the Crystal City Internment Camp, and the 442nd/100th/MIS during a processional to the stage
Banners representing the 10 American concentration camps, the Crystal City Internment Camp, and the 442nd/100th/MIS during a processional to the stage.
Banners representing the 10 American concentration camps, the Crystal City Internment Camp, and the 442nd/100th/MIS during a processional to the stage
Banners representing the 10 American concentration camps, the Crystal City Internment Camp, and the 442nd/100th/MIS during a processional to the stage
Banners representing the 10 American concentration camps, the Crystal City Internment Camp, and the 442nd/100th/MIS during a processional to the stage
Banners representing the 10 American concentration camps, the Crystal City Internment Camp, and the 442nd/100th/MIS during a processional to the stage
Banners representing the 10 American concentration camps, the Crystal City Internment Camp, and the 442nd/100th/MIS during a processional to the stage
Banners representing the 10 American concentration camps, the Crystal City Internment Camp, and the 442nd/100th/MIS.
Banners representing the 10 American concentration camps, the Crystal City Internment Camp, and the 442nd/100th/MIS during a processional to the stage
Banners representing the 10 American concentration camps, the Crystal City Internment Camp, and the 442nd/100th/MIS.
Banners representing the 10 American concentration camps, the Crystal City Internment Camp, and the 442nd/100th/MIS at the stage
Don Hata (left) and Hatsuko Mary Higuchi (right)
Takashi Hoshizaki (left) and Nancy Oda (right)
Co-emcee traci ishigo
Co-emcee traci ishigo with Manzanar Committee member and co-emcee Pat Sakamoto (background)
Manzanar Committee member Pat Sakamoto
Manzanar National Historic Site Superintendent Bernadette Johnson
Consul General of Japan (San Francisco) Jun Yamada
Consul General of Japan (San Francisco) Jun Yamada
Manzanar Committee Co-Chair Bruce Embrey (left) with California State Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi (center) and co-emcee Pat Sakamoto (right)
California State Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi
California State Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi presenting a proclamation to Manzanar Committee Chair Bruce Embrey
Co-emcee traci ishigo
Student speaker Juli Yoshinaga of the CSULB Nikkei Student Union
The “Songbird of Manzanar,” Mary Kageyama Nomura (in white). That’s Aiko Herzig Yoshinaga behind Mary’s right shoulder.
Crowd shot during the Pilgrimage program
From left: Rafu Shimpo photographer Mario Reyes, Warren Furutani, and Alan Nishio
Alan Nishio (right) and Manzanar Committee member Diane Ujiye (left)
Crowd shot during the Pilgrimage program
Manzanar National Historic Site’s Chief of Interpretation Alisa Lynch (left) with Ranger Rose Masters (right)
Crowd shot during the Pilgrimage program
The “Songbird of Manzanar,” Mary Kageyama Nomura
The “Songbird of Manzanar,” Mary Kageyama Nomura
Asmaa Ahmed of CAIR-LA
Manzanar Committee Co-Chair Bruce Embrey
Manzanar Committee Co-Chair Bruce Embrey
Manzanar Committee”s Gann Matsuda (left) and Warren Furutani (right)
Crowd shot during the Pilgrimage program
Crowd shot during the Pilgrimage program
Crowd shot during the Pilgrimage program
2017 Sue Kunitomi Embrey Legacy Award recipient Alan Nishio (second from left), shown here with Manzanar Committee Co-Chairs Bruce Embrey (left) and Jenny Chomori (right), and co-emcee traci ishigo
2017 Sue Kunitomi Embrey Legacy Award recipient Alan Nishio with Manzanar Committee Co-Chair Bruce Embrey (background)
“Instructions,” performed by the #vigilantLOVE Steering Committee
“Instructions,” performed by the #vigilantLOVE Steering Committee
“Instructions,” performed by the #vigilantLOVE Steering Committee
“Instructions,” performed by the #vigilantLOVE Steering Committee; Sahar Pirzarda is shown in this photo
From left: Sahar Pirzada, traci kato-kiriyama, Kathy Masaoka and traci ishigo
Manzanar Committee and Manzanar Pilgrimage co-founder Warren Furutani
Manzanar Committee and Manzanar Pilgrimage co-founder Warren Furutani
Manzanar Committee and Manzanar Pilgrimage co-founder Warren Furutani
Manzanar National Historic Site Chief of Interpretation Alisa Lynch
Dale Kunitomi (left) and Monica Embrey (right)
From left: Takashi Hoshizaki, Monica Embrey, Kerry Cababa
From left: Takashi Hoshizaki, Monica Embrey, Bruce Embrey
Former Manzanar NHS Superintendent Tom Leatherman
Banners representing the 10 American concentration camps, the Crystal City Internment Camp, and the 442nd/100th/MIS during a processional to the Manzanar cemetery
Banners representing the 10 American concentration camps, the Crystal City Internment Camp, and the 442nd/100th/MIS during a processional to the Manzanar cemetery
Banners representing the 10 American concentration camps, the Crystal City Internment Camp, and the 442nd/100th/MIS during a processional to the Manzanar cemetery
Banners representing the 10 American concentration camps, the Crystal City Internment Camp, and the 442nd/100th/MIS during a processional to the Manzanar cemetery
Banners representing the 10 American concentration camps, the Crystal City Internment Camp, and the 442nd/100th/MIS during a processional to the Manzanar cemetery
Banners representing the 10 American concentration camps, the Crystal City Internment Camp, and the 442nd/100th/MIS during a processional to the Manzanar cemetery
Banners representing the 10 American concentration camps, the Crystal City Internment Camp, and the 442nd/100th/MIS during a processional to the Manzanar cemetery
Banners representing the 10 American concentration camps, the Crystal City Internment Camp, and the 442nd/100th/MIS during a processional to the Manzanar cemetery
Banners representing the 10 American concentration camps, the Crystal City Internment Camp, and the 442nd/100th/MIS during a processional to the Manzanar cemetery
Banners representing the 10 American concentration camps, the Crystal City Internment Camp, and the 442nd/100th/MIS during a processional to the Manzanar cemetery
Banners representing the 10 American concentration camps, the Crystal City Internment Camp, and the 442nd/100th/MIS during a processional to the Manzanar cemetery
Banners representing the 10 American concentration camps, the Crystal City Internment Camp, and the 442nd/100th/MIS during a processional to the Manzanar cemetery
Takashi Hoshizaki (background left) and David Fujioka (center)
Banners representing the 10 American concentration camps, the Crystal City Internment Camp, and the 442nd/100th/MIS during a processional to the Manzanar cemetery
Banners representing the 10 American concentration camps, the Crystal City Internment Camp, and the 442nd/100th/MIS during a processional to the Manzanar cemetery
The crowd at the Manzanar cemetery during the interfaith service
Manzanar Committee”s Kerry Cababa (left) and Monica Embrey (right)
Manzanar National Historic Site Superintendent Bernadette Johnson (leftI with Rev. Alfred Tsuyuki of the Konko Church of Los Angeles
Manzanar Committee member Kerry Cababa (center) with Rev. Alfred Tsuyuki of the Konko Church of Los Angeles (right)
Rev. Alfred Tsuyuki of the Konko Church of Los Angeles
Rev. Alfred Tsuyuki of the Konko Church of Los Angeles
Rev. Alfred Tsuyuki of the Konko Church of Los Angeles
A portion of the Shinto purification rite, performed by Rev. Alfred Tsuyuki of the Konko Church of Los Angeles
Manzanar National Historic Site Ranger Patricia Biggs (left) participates in the Shinto purification rite with Rev. Alfred Tsuyuki of the Konko Church of Los Angeles.
A portion of the Shinto purification rite, performed by Rev. Alfred Tsuyuki of the Konko Church of Los Angeles
Rev, Dickson Yagi (left)
Buddhist portion of the interfaith ceremony
Buddhist portion of the interfaith ceremony
Buddhist portion of the interfaith ceremony
Buddhist portion of the interfaith ceremony
Buddhist portion of the interfaith ceremony
Nancy Oda
The crowd at the Manzanar cemetery during the interfaith service
The crowd at the Manzanar cemetery during the interfaith service
The crowd at the Manzanar cemetery during the interfaith service
The crowd at the Manzanar cemetery during the interfaith service. That’s former Manzanar incarceree Mo Nishida (background)
The crowd at the Manzanar cemetery during the interfaith service
The crowd at the Manzanar cemetery during the interfaith service
The crowd at the Manzanar cemetery during the interfaith service
Flower offering at the conclusion of the interfaith service
Flower offering at the conclusion of the interfaith service
Flower offering at the conclusion of the interfaith service
Flower offering at the conclusion of the interfaith service
Flower offering at the conclusion of the interfaith service
Flower offering at the conclusion of the interfaith service
Takashi Hoshizaki being interviewed
Former Manzanar incarceree and Manzanar Committee member Pat Sakamoto being interviewed
Some of the origami cranes left at the cemetery as an offering during the interfaith ceremony
Flowers and what appears to be a persimmon or a tomato left at the cemetery as an offering during the interfaith ceremony
Coins left as an offering on the cemetery monument
Flowers left as an offering on the cemetery monument
Origami cranes left on the Manzanar cemetery fence
Origami cranes left on the Manzanar cemetery fence
Some of the origami cranes left at the cemetery as an offering during the interfaith ceremony
Some of the origami cranes left at the cemetery as an offering during the interfaith ceremony
Origami cranes left on the cemetery fence
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Manzanar Committee 
Beautiful and very moving imagery.