(1st of 3 videos) In the book Child Prisoner in American Concentration Camps author Mako Nakagawa shares her experience of being taken away to the War Relocation Authority incarceration camps during WWII. In this video, Mako’s sisters Kazuko “Kai” Katayama and Midori “Minkie” Akagi give us firsthand accounts from their perspectives. 

This project was funded through the Kip Tokuda Memorial Civil Liberties Public Education Grant. 

(2nd of 3 videos) Author Mako Nakagawa’s father, Masao Takahashi, submitted a testimonial letter to Congress about redress for the incarceration. In this video, Masao’s great grandson, Trevyr Akagi, reads this letter and shares some thoughts on his family’s incarceration. 

This project was funded through the Kip Tokuda Memorial Civil Liberties Public Education Grant. 

(3rd of 3 videos). Child Prisoner in American Concentration Camps author Mako Nakagawa’s daughter, nieces, and nephews share their perspectives on their family’s incarceration. They express their feelings about their grandparents’ and parents’ imprisonment. The cousins also share their insights on the lasting effects of the incarceration on themselves, their family, and their community. 

This project was funded through the Kip Tokuda Memorial Civil Liberties Public Education Grant. 

The Hatanaka story focuses on Yoshisuke Hatanaka who came to the United States from Japan in the early 1900s. He did everything an immigrant is supposed to do when they come here: he learned English, converted to Christianity, had a family, and became an upstanding member of the community. None of that mattered on the evening of December 7, 1941 when he was arrested by the FBI and separated from his family for years. 

In the final short documentary for our Japanese American Confinement Sites grant, we talk to Mits Yamamoto and his daughter, Ginny. Mits was allowed to go on seasonal work leave from Jerome. He shares with us what it felt like to be on the "outside." 

Jane Kushino-Ogino attended the 2019 Poston Pilgrimage with her family. We spoke with Jane, her two sons, Guy and Doug, and her granddaughter, Jessica about their research into family history. This research led to conversations about not only past trauma but also about their family’s resilience and success after incarceration. 

Carole’s grandfather was taken by the FBI then the rest of the family were sent to Rohwer, Arkansas. Because of this, Carol’s grandfather had a lasting distrust of law enforcement. Carole shares with us this history and how she thinks her grandfather would have reacted to the U.S. government’s apology. 

The family of James Tsutomu Uyeda come together to discuss what shaped his life, his decision to resist the draft and subsequent imprisonment at McNeil Island, Washington State. James' daughter, grandchild, and great grandchildren talk about the lasting effects of his resistance. 

We were lucky enough to interview Dorothy Kittaka and her family at the 2019 Heart Mountain Pilgrimage. Listen to their thoughts on being Japanese American. 

Brothers Ben and Zach attended the 2018 Tule Lake Pilgrimage with their grandmother, May Ohmura Watanabe. During the Pilgrimage Ben and Zach discovered their connection to their family history. Ben and Zach are inspired by this healing and bonding time to continue to pass the family history down to future generations. 

Teiko Saito was incarcerated with her parents and brother at the Minidoka site. Teiko’s nephew Spencer accompanied her to the 2017 Minidoka Pilgrimage. This was Spencer’s first time visiting the Minidoka site and his first pilgrimage. 

In 2019, Robert Ito came to the Jerome/Rohwer pilgrimage with his wife and son. His family was sent from Sacramento to Jerome and then on to Gila River, Arizona. In this video he shares his memories and thoughts about what happened during WWII with his son, Stephen. 

At the 2019 Heart Mountain pilgrimage the Coe family discuss their motivation to come to Heart Mountain and why it’s essential to keep this history alive. 

Rinko Shimasaki Enosaki was sent to Jerome, Arkansas with her mother and seven siblings. During the 2019 Jerome/Rohwer Pilgrimage we interviewed her and two of her grandchildren.