Even though we published photographs of the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage shortly after the event was held (April 27, 2019), we’re finally publishing our official photo essay from the event, featuring the stunning photographs by professional photographers Geri Ferguson and Mark Kirchner.
Mark and Geri have generously provided photographs of the Manzanar Pilgrimage to us for several years now and, as they are each and every year, this year’s photographs are absolutely gorgeous and they capture the event like no one else can.
We hope you enjoy them as much as we do!
LEAD PHOTO: Rev. Alfred Tsuyuki of the Konko Church of Los Angeles performed the Shinto rite of purification during the interfaith service portion of the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage, April 27, 2019, at the Manzanar National Historic Site. Photo: Mark Kirchner/Manzanar Committee.
50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage
131 photos by Geri Ferguson and Mark Kirchner. © 2019 Manzanar Committee. All rights reserved. Duplication prohibited without permission. Click on any photo to view a larger image and to scroll through the gallery.
From keft: Michael Embrey (partially obscured), Bruce Embrey, Monica Mariko Embrey and Steve Nagano.
Kathy Jefferson Bancroft (center)
Members of the Venice Japanese American Memorial Marker committee.
2019 Sue Kunitomi Embrey Legacy Award recipient Jim Matsuoka (left), shown here being interviewed by a media outlet from Japan.
From left: Monica Mariko Embrey, Kerry Cababa, Michael Embrey and Bruce Embrey.
From left: Warren Furutani, Bruce Embrey and Kathy Jefferson Bancroft.
From left: Warren Furutani, Bruce Embrey and Kathy Jefferson Bancroft.
Mo Nishida (right) was incarcerated at Manzanar during World War II. He was also one of those who participated in the first organized Manzanar Pilgrimage in 1969.
That’s Ron Wakabayshi at right, who participated in the first organized Manzanar Pilgrimage in 1969.
Manzanar Committe member Wendi Yamashita (left) with NCRR Co-Chair Richard Katsuda.
2019 Sue Kunitomi Embrey Legacy Award recipient Jim Matsuoka.
Ranger Rose Masters (left) with 2019 Sue Kunitomi Embrey Legacy Award recipient Jim Matsuoka.
Manzanar Committee member Gann Matsuda (in blue), shown here speaking with UCLA Kyodo Taiko.
Bernadette Johnson, Superitendent, Manzanar National Historic Site.
traci kato-kiriyama (black shirt) co-emceed the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
For the 13th consecutive years, UCLA Kyodo Taiko performed during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
For the 13th consecutive years, UCLA Kyodo Taiko performed during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
UCLA Kyodo Taiko
UCLA Kyodo Taiko
Ken Koshio (background) with his son, Miro.
Warren Furutani, one of co-founders of the Manzanar Pilgrimage and the Manzanar Committee, was one of the co-emcees of the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
Hatsuko Mary Higuchi carried the Poston banner.
Hatsuko Mary Higuchi carried the Poston banner.
Melany Lucia carrying the Amache banner.
Rochard Katsuda (foreground), Don Hata (middle) and David Fujioka (rear) carrying the Crystal City, Gila River and Heart Mountains banners, respectively.
Pat Sakamoto carrying the Manzanar banner during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
LInden Nishinaga carrying the Minidoka banner during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
Hatsuko Mary Higuchi carrying the Poston banner during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
traci kato-kiriyama was one of the co-emcees of the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
Warren Furutani, one of co-founders of the Manzanar Pilgrimage and the Manzanar Committee, was one of the co-emcees of the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
Warren Furutani, one of co-founders of the Manzanar Pilgrimage and the Manzanar Committee, was one of the co-emcees of the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
Warren Furutani, one of co-founders of the Manzanar Pilgrimage and the Manzanar Committee, was one of the co-emcees of the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
Kathy Jefferson Bancroft, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Lone Pine Paiute-Shoshone Reservation, addressed the crowd during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
Bernadette Johnson, Superintendent, Manzanar National Historic Site, addressed the crowd during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
Don Hata
Cindy Orlando, Acting Deputy Regional Director, Pacific West Region, National Park Service, addressed the crowd during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
Warren Furutani, one of co-founders of the Manzanar Pilgrimage and the Manzanar Committee, was one of the co-emcees of the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
Counsel General of Japan (San Francisco) Tomochika Uyama addressed the crowd during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
Hussam Alyoush, Executive Director, Council on American-Islamic Relations, Greater Los Angeles (left) with Manzanar Committee Co-Chair Bruce Embrey (right).
Banners representing the ten American concentration camps in which Japanese Americans were unjustly incarcerated during World War II, along with banners representing the Crystal City internment camp and the 100th442nd/MIS are part of every Manzanar Pilgrimage.
Roula Allouch, National Board Chair, Council on American-Islamic Relations, addressed the crowd during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
Nihad Awad, Executive Director, Council on American-Islamic Relations, addressed the crowd during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
Hussam Alyoush, Executive Director, Council on American-Islamic Relations, Greater Los Angeles, addressed the crowd during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
Mo Nishida was incarcerated at Manzanar during World War II. He was also one of those who participated in the first organized Manzanar Pilgrimage in 1969.
Manzanar Committee Co-Chair Bruce Embrey.
Manzanar Committee treasurer Joyce Okazaki (rightl shown here with Manzanar Committee Co-Chair Jenny Chomori) was honored by the Manzanar Committee during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
Ken Koshio (right) with his son, Miro.
Karen Korematsu of the Korematsu Institute addressed the crowd during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
Attorney Dale Minami addressed the crowd during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
Warren Furutani (left) with Bruce Embrey (right)
2019 Sue Kunitomi Embrey Legacy Award recipient Jim Matsuoka addressed the crowd during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
2019 Sue Kunitomi Embrey Legacy Award recipient Jim Matsuoka (center) with Manzanar Committee Co-Chairs Jenny Chomori (left) and Bruce Embrey (right).
Bernadette Johnson, Superitendent, Manzanar National Historic Site.
Warren Furutani (left) with Bruce Embrey (right)
Michael Embrey (left) with his sister, Monica Embrey (right).
Karen Korematsu (left) with Ranger Patricia Biggs.
Former Manzanar incarceree Mas Okui.
UCSD Nikkei Student Union Co-President Lauren Matsumoto addressed the crowd during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
Manzanar Committee member Colleen “Teeny” Miyano.
The interfaith service during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
The interfaith service during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
The interfaith service during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
The interfaith service during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
The interfaith service during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
The interfaith service during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
The interfaith service during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage. Rev. Alfred Tsuyuki of the Konko Church of Los Angeles performed the Shinto rite of purification.
The interfaith service during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage. Rev. Alfred Tsuyuki of the Konko Church of Los Angeles performed the Shinto rite of purification.
The interfaith service during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage. Rev. Alfred Tsuyuki of the Konko Church of Los Angeles performed the Shinto rite of purification.
The interfaith service during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage. Rev. Alfred Tsuyuki of the Konko Church of Los Angeles performed the Shinto rite of purification.
The interfaith service during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
The interfaith service during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
The interfaith service during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
The interfaith service during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
The interfaith service during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
The interfaith service during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
The interfaith service during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
The interfaith service during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
The interfaith service during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage. Rev. William Briones of Nishi Hongwanji Buddhist Temple is shown here.
The interfaith service during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
The interfaith service during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
The interfaith service during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
The interfaith service during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
The interfaith service during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
The interfaith service during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
The interfaith service during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
The interfaith service during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
The interfaith service during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
The interfaith service during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
The interfaith service during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
The interfaith service during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
The interfaith service during the 50th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage.
Rev. Alfred Tsuyuki of the Konko Church of Los Angeles offers incense during the Buddhist portion of the interfaith service.
An offering at the Manzanar cemetery monument.
An offering at the Manzanar cemetery monument.
An offering at the Manzanar cemetery monument.
Origami cranes at the Manzanar cemetery monument
Origami cranes at the Manzanar cemetery monument
An offering at the Manzanar cemetery monument.
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