The California State University (CSU) Office of the Chancellor announced in an Oct. 7 statement that it had completed six videos to honor Nisei who had received honorary bachelor’s degrees from the university’s board of trustees.

The former students were forced to leave CSU campuses during World War II, and were among the some 120,000 persons of Japanese descent who were incarcerated in American concentration camps.

“The California State University: Sharing and Celebrating Stories from Nisei Honorary Degree Recipients” videos feature interviews with recipients and/or the families of those who were awarded the degrees posthumously.

According to the statement, five of the 30-minute videos highlight recipients and family members who attended commencement ceremonies at five CSU campuses where the former students were once enrolled: Fresno, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose and San Luis Obispo.

Footage of a ceremony held at CSU Dominguez Hills for recipients from the Los Angeles area who were unable to travel to their campuses, also exists. The sixth video contains clips from all of the families, and features CSU dignitaries and others who spoke at the ceremonies. The videos also include both archival and current family photos.

Four screenings have been scheduled thus far:

San Francisco
Tuesday, Oct. 25, 6 p.m.
Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California
1840 Sutter St. in Japantown

East Bay
Wednesday, Oct. 26, 4 p.m.
Power to the People (P2P) Reel Talk
Documentary Series
CSU East Bay
25800 Carlos Bee Blvd., Hayward,

San Jose
Thursday, Oct. 27, 4 p.m.
Japanese American Museum
of San Jose
535 North Fifth St., in Japantown

Fresno
Friday, Oct. 28, 4 p.m.
Fresno State University
Madden Library, 2nd Floor
55241 North Maple Ave., Fresno

A short discussion and light refreshments will follow the screenings. To RSVP (seating is limited), contact Kim Shibata at (562) 951-4811 or kshibata@calstate.edu.

As additional screenings are planned, they will be posted at www.calstate.edu/nisei.