Day of Remembrance

Events and articles commemorating the signing of Executive Order 9066, which led to the forced removal and incarceration of some 120,000 persons of Japanese ancestry — most of whom were American citizens — during World War II.

American nightmare turned into American Dream

“Moving Walls” by Sharon Yamato recounts the Japanese American experience at the Heart Mountain, Wyo. concentration camp during World War II, and also discloses what happened after the war to the 457 barracks that had housed more than 10,700 ethnic Japanese from 1942-45. The film describes how young veterans (including one Nisei, Tak Ogawa) seeking […]

‘Never Give Up!’ focuses on civil rights icon Minoru Yasui’s legacy

“Never Give Up! Minoru Yasui and the Fight for Justice,” by Holly Yasui and Will Doolittle, highlights the life of Minoru Yasui, who during World War II intentionally violated Executive Order 9066, the presidential orders that resulted in the incarceration of more than 120,000 persons of Japanese ancestry in United States concentration camps. Minoru Yasui, […]

Addressing the silence

Following World War II, Japanese Americans returned home to the West Coast from various concentration camps. The experience, traumatic and humiliating for many former inmates, became a taboo subject for numerous families. Often times, their children would not learn about their incarceration until years later. Marlene Shigekawa, a filmmaker based in Lafayette, Calif., explores that […]

And then they stood up for them

Japanese Americans held a candlelight vigil in San Francisco’s Japantown in November 2016, following the election of President Donald Trump. Abby Ginzberg’s “And Then They Came For Us” opens with this scene as Asian Americans and the Muslim community expressed solidarity following a presidential campaign fraught with xenophobia, homophobia and Islamophobia. The year-long campaign by […]

‘Telling Stories’ shorts at Films of Remembrance spotlights little-known WWII episodes

The Nichi Bei Foundation will present the sixth annual Films of Remembrance Saturday, Feb. 25 at the New People Cinema, 1746 Post St. in San Francisco’s Japantown. Three short films, each telling the World War II incarceration experience through unique lenses, compose the “Telling Stories” shorts program at 12:15 p.m. For more information or tickets, […]

Arkansas ‘Relocation’: Film explores impact of camps on inmates’ children

In 1942, some 120,000 West Coast Japanese Americans were taken from their homes and imprisoned in concentration camps throughout the country. A film showing the impact of the incarceration on the children born to inmates in the Rohwer camp, or after the Arkansas camp closed down, will be shown in conjunction with the Day of […]

SAN JOSE’S DAY OF REMEMBRANCE: A new generation of activists

SAN JOSE — The 35th annual Day of Remembrance, held at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin Feb. 12 in the city’s Japantown, marked the infamous day in 1942 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which led to the illegal incarceration of some 120,000 Nikkei during World War II, drastically altering the […]

Los Angeles DOR discusses JA-black connections in fighting injustice

LOS ANGELES — The 2015 Day of Remembrance program, held Feb. 21 at the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo before an audience of 250, explored the interconnection of the Nikkei and black communities in their battles against racism and injustice. Serving as co-emcees were Dr. Curtiss Takada Rooks, a professor in Asian Pacific […]

SILENCED NO MORE: 2015 Bay Area Day of Remembrance

The Bay Area Day of Remembrance Consortium presented its 36th annual Day of Remembrance Feb. 22 at the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas in San Francisco’s Japantown. The program recalls the injustices more than 120,000 Nikkei faced following President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s signing of Executive Order 9066 on Feb. 19, 1942. Emily Murase, president of the San […]

Day of Remembrance 2015 events

The Day of Remembrance marks the 73rd anniversary of the signing of Executive Order 9066 by Franklin D. Roosevelt which led to the mass incarceration. The Day of Remembrance commemorates the injustices, race prejudice, hardships of 120,000 Japanese Americans who were imprisoned in concentration camps during World War II. Editor’s Note: This is not a […]