Members and friends of the Venice Hongwanji Buddhist Temple recently gathered to consider the topic “The Japanese American Incarceration: Its Relevance Today.”
The event was produced by temple member Sharon Ishida, a member of the Buddhist Education Committee whose mother and father were incarcerated at Heart Mountain in Wyoming during World War II. She thanked temple members for their support and contributions to create a successful program. Ishida dedicated her efforts, in gratitude, to her Nisei parents Taye and Hank Sakauye.
Filmmaker and guest speaker Barbara Kagawa Shore, presented her film, “Missing Pieces,” which shared the story of the deaths of both her grandmother Asao Kagawa and Asao’s 14-year-old son while incarcerated at Manzanar due to inadequate medical facilities and the failure of the administration to move both to the local hospital located14 miles outside of camp.
Shore spoke of the harm caused to others who were incarcerated and 1,862 lives lost — babies, children, women and men, and seniors — raising the question of how many of those deaths were also due to the negligence of the government. Her message, whether about today or then, speaks to the lives lost due to the government’s inhumane actions.
Keynote speaker and activist Kay Ochi shared her journey from being a quiet young adult until learning about the injustices suffered during the Japanese American incarceration. Through her efforts with the National Coalition for Redress & Reparations and participating in the community’s campaign for redress, she found her voice and lifelong cause. Ochi also shared a video excerpt of the moving testimonies given by former incarcerees during the 1981 Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians (CWRIC) hearings in Los Angeles. All spoke their truth.
Facilitators Michelle Orne, Richard Modiano, Ochi and Ishida guided the small-group discussions, making meaning of all that was presented. Participants shared their families’ camp stories and asked questions of one another.
Dr.Tom Yoshikawa, survivor: “After camp days, my wife and I wanted our family to know. It was still important to be Japanese — otherwise our cultural identity is lost!”
The facilitators summarized the messages from their groups and parallels to events happening today, which show that history does repeat itself: government’s abusive actions, racism, generational trauma. Many shared the importance of developing humility and compassion for their loved ones.
Ishida shared the message on the event’s flyer: “Nidoto Nai Yoni!” Let it not happen again! Her vision for attendees was to increase compassion by becoming informed and about what happened to the 125,000 Japanese Americans incarcerated, the government’s harm to them, and the impact on their lives. And then deciding on a constructive way to use this information.
Ishida created a gallery in the event space to share ways to express one’s history. She encouraged, “Become more informed, be an activist, build your own legacy so all stories are not lost.”
The mini-gallery showcased ways to become informed or express their stories. Ochi displayed books on Japanese American history and redress for visitors to peruse. The paintings of late artist Noe Yamabe about life during the concentration camps were displayed, as were a piece from a mother’s journal after camp days, “Broken Silence,” and “I see You,” a dedicated to a Sansei’s parents.
P J Hirabayashi and Yoko Fujimoto’s lyrics and music for the Obon song “Ei Ja Nai Ka” described Issei’s work after camp days. Also shown were a Nisei’s heirloom crochet blanket and her famous marble chiffon cake recipe. Ishida hoped that each visitor walked away with ideas relevant to them.
Ishida cautioned that the temple’s position has always remained neutral or apolitical, because its core value is focused on the spiritual goals of their members. However, members and visitors were invited to share and learn more about this time period.
Unable to attend in person, Rev. Kory Quon shared a message with participants, closing with: “Whatever you take away today, know it’s not a one all, ends all. This journey will hopefully inspire you to want to learn more.”