Official Web site of the Los Angeles-based Manzanar Committee, sponsor of the annual Manzanar Pilgrimage since 1969.
LOS ANGELES — On February 21, the Los Angeles-based Manzanar Committee reiterated its ongoing support for the use of accurate, non-euphemistic terms to describe the unjust incarceration of over 110,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry during World War II. The Committee, which has advocated for the use of non-euphemistic terms since 1971, remains steadfast in its... Continue Reading →
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles-based Manzanar Committee is saddened to report the passing of long-time Manzanar Committee leader Takenori “Tak” Yamamoto, of Los Angeles, on Friday, November 9, 2012. Yamamoto, 74, died of natural causes, according to long-time partner and Committee supporter Karl Fish. Growing up in a large family, Yamamoto was among the... Continue Reading →
by Andy Noguchi An amazing 86 to 0 unanimous vote of the National Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) Council ratified the Power of Words Handbook and Implementation Ideas on July 7, 2012, in Bellevue, Washington. This capped a three-year campaign for truthful and accurate terms, and retiring the misleading euphemisms created by the government to... Continue Reading →
LOS ANGELES — On May 27, the Los Angeles-based Manzanar Committee announced that it has endorsed the Power of Words Draft Handbook that is expected to be voted on at the National Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) Convention in Seattle, Washington, July 5-8, 2012. The Power of Words Draft Handbook is an attempt by some... Continue Reading →
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 →
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 →
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 →
Born in Sierra Madre, California in April 1923, Yosh Kuromiya and his family moved to Monrovia, where he attended grammar school, junior high and high school. He was attending Pasadena Junior College as an art major when his family was forced out of their homes and imprisoned, like other Americans of Japanese ancestry, during World... Continue Reading →
The following is the text of the keynote address delivered at the 42nd Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage on April 30, 2011, by Mako Nakagawa. Good afternoon. I am very pleased to be able to join you on this wonderful occasion. We stand here today on sacred ground. If we listen, we can hear the cries of... Continue Reading →
Manzanar Committee 