Revisiting Camp and Community: A Consideration of Its Relevance for the 2012 Day of Remembrance at the Manzanar National Historic Site

Dr. Arthur A. Hansen, Professor Emeritus of History and Asian American Studies, California State University, Fullerton, was the guest lecturer at the Manzanar National Historic Site, February 18-19, 2012, when he discussed Manzanar in a local, Owens Valley-related context, while highlighting universal themes such as fear, friendship, loss, and loyalty. The lectures were held in... Continue Reading →

March 2, 2012 2

Cast in Bronze: Terminology Symposium in San Francisco, October 22, 2011

By Soji Kashiwagi The main reason for holding a day-long symposium on terminology and the use of U.S. government euphemisms during World War II was not, according to event organizers, to take on the role of the “word police” and tell members of the Japanese American community what they should or should not say regarding... Continue Reading →

January 30, 2012 13

National Defense Authorization Act: Nikkei Community Must Redouble Efforts To Defend Constitutional Rights

by Bruce Embrey LOS ANGELES — President Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on December 31, 2011, allowing indefinite detention without charge or trial to be codified into law. As a result, Americans citizens and others could be subjected to imprisonment without ever being charged or convicted of a crime. This provision of... Continue Reading →

January 25, 2012 1

Deporting “Troublemakers” Redux

Editor’s Note: Like Soji Kashiwagi, Tule Lake Committee leader Barbara Takei recently shared her thoughts on the National Defense Authorization Act that was recently signed by President Obama, more specifically, two companion bills. Her commentary piece is published here with permission. Time of Remembrance observances are coming up in another few weeks, a good time... Continue Reading →

January 25, 2012 2

Open Letter To President Obama Protesting The Signing Of The National Defense Authorization Act

Playwright Soji Kashiwagi, who is active with the Tule Lake Committee, recently wrote a letter to President Barack Obama, criticizing him for signing the National Defense Authorization Act on December 31, 2011. Kashiwagi, who writes from Pasadena, California, has graciously permitted us to repint it here. January 10, 2012 The Honorable Barack Obama President of... Continue Reading →

January 24, 2012 3

Dancing With Grace – Gracious And Graceful

Editor’s Note: The following piece by Jenni Kuida, a tribute to former Manzanar Committee member Grace Harada, was originally published in January 2002, in the Rafu Shimpo. She posted a link to her story on Facebook on January 18, commemorating the tenth anniversary of Harada’s passing. We thought it would be a fitting tribute to... Continue Reading →

January 19, 2012 0

Japanese Americans Respond To New York Times Review Of Heart Mountain Interpretive Learning Center

Editor’s Note: On December 9, 2011, the New York Times published a review of the new museum at the Heart Mountain National Historic Landmark, which opened on August 20, 2011. But it was clear that the author failed to do thorough research. In fact, he was careless, sloppy, and as a journalist, his work was... Continue Reading →

December 20, 2011 0

Manzanar Committee: Answering Questions From Schools

Editor’s Note: On occasion, the Manzanar Committee receives questions about Manzanar, along with the Japanese American Incarceration experience, from students and teachers from all levels, from K-12 schools, and from colleges and universities across the United States and even from other countries. The Manzanar Committee encourages those with questions to feel free to contact us.... Continue Reading →

December 16, 2011 3

Euphemistic Terms Used To Describe WWII Incarceration Of Japanese Americans Targeted At JANM Event

by Joyce OkazakiLOS ANGELES — Mako Nakagawa of Seattle, the primary author of the Power Of Words resolution that called for use of accurate, non-euphemistic language to be used to describe the wartime experience of Japanese Americans and their immigrant parents, along with the camps used to incarcerate them, spoke at an event entitled, Let’s... Continue Reading →

September 5, 2011 2

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