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The
Nihonmachi Outreach
Committee will present its 45th annual Day of
Remembrance on Sunday, February 16, 2025, from 5:30 to
7:30 p.m. The event commemorates Executive Order 9066
signed by President Franklin Roosevelt which led to the
forced removal and incarceration of over
125,000 persons of Japanese descent during World War
II.
This year's theme, "Women Activists Leading
Change," celebrates the significant
influence and leadership of Asian American women in
political and social movements. San Jose's Japantown, in
particular, has a rich history of strong female
leadership. The 2017 Women's March not only made a
powerful statement for women's rights and resistance to
divisive rhetoric but also had a lasting impact by
energizing activists. Notably, it inspired many young
women to join numerous organizations in San Jose's
Japantown and other communities.
Related:
Researchers report stunning surge of misogyny after the
election.
Guest speakers are Professor
Alice Yang, Chair of the History Department at the
University of California, Santa Cruz, and Diana
Tsuchida, independent historian and creator of the oral
history project Tessaku.
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Professor Alice Yang curated the
multimedia art exhibit, “Never Again
is Now,” which highlights the
resilience and activism of Japanese American
women. These women protested within U.S.
concentration camps during World War II, played
pivotal roles in the social movements of the
1960s, and spearheaded campaigns for Redress and
Reparations. The exhibit was showcased at both
UC Santa Cruz and the
Japanese American
Museum of San Jose. |
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Diana Emiko
Tsuchida is the creator of
Tessaku, an oral
history project dedicated to preserving stories
of survivors from the WWII Japanese American
incarceration. Her father and grandparents, who
were American citizens, were incarcerated and
transferred to several different confinement
sites during WWII. Diana and her work were
featured in the 2024 documentary
Snapshots of
Confinement. |
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Remembrance
Speakers
Keiko Kay Tachibana will share her
memories of the Tule Lake Camp, while her
granddaughter, Jordan Tachibana, will reflect on
the profound impact her grandmother has had on
her life and career. Jordan is active with
multiple organizations in the community. She is
also a board member of
the Japanese American Museum of San Jose and is a
congressional aide to Congressman Ro Khanna. |
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In this
short video clip, NOC Chairperson Reiko
Nakayama talks briefly about the theme,
Women Activists Leading Change.
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The program will also feature
community speakers, the traditional candlelight ceremony
honoring survivors of the camps, a candlelight
procession through San Jose Japantown, and performances
by San Jose Taiko and
Aswat Women’s
Ensemble.
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