Densho

09/01/2026

Join us on September 26 for the 30th Gala

08/29/2026

Densho unequivocally condemns recent statements made on the podcast, Timcast IRL, suggesting that Chinese Americans should be incarcerated in the event of a war between China and the U.S.

History shows us that mass injustice begins with language that casts an entire community as dangerous, makes collective suspicion appear reasonable, and gradually moves previously unthinkable actions into public debate and policy.

Read our response on Catalyst.

Densho unequivocally condemns recent statements made on the podcast Timcast IRL suggesting that Chinese Americans should be incarcerated in the event of a war between China and the U.S. On...

08/27/2026

For this month’s installment of Densho Staff’s 30 Favorite Objects, Archivist Micah Merryman chose this archival photograph of marionettes set against a backdrop for a puppet show. Taken inside Amache, it is an exemplary illustration of ingenuity and creativity inside the camps, despite the oppressive conditions. Micah explains why this image resonates with her. “This photo from the Yuriko (Domoto) Tsukada Collection is one of a dozen accessions from the Domoto family I've worked on during my ten years at Densho. This particular photo stuck out to me because it was part of a group of photos that showcased some of the fun theatrics put on to entertain folks in Amache. I've always been curious about what story was being told with these marionnettes…”.

Image description: A photograph of a marionette show courtesy of Yuriko Domoto Tsukada Collection.

08/25/2026

Thank you to SFGATE for including our Archives Director, Caitlin Oiye C**n, in this article covering the significant threat to the National Archives documents and records, many related to the J*panese American incarceration, housed in the Bay Area. This is an ongoing and developing story that demands the public's attention.

The SF branch stores vital documents chronicling immigration to the West Coast.

08/24/2026

Calling all educators! Join the National Constitution Center, UCLA Asian American Studies, and Densho for “Federalism in Action: Teaching J*panese American Incarceration During World War II.”

This event is a full-day workshop on teaching the wartime incarceration of J*panese Americans through the lens of federalism and constitutional thinking. Using the incarceration as a case study, you'll explore how federal power, civil liberties, and the courts collided during this period and leave with classroom-ready materials to bring back to your students. This full-day, in-person workshop is intended for secondary classroom teachers.

Participating teachers will receive a $100 stipend and workshop materials, as well as light breakfast and a boxed lunch (dietary needs will be accommodated).

🗓️Thursday, September 10, 2026, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
📍National Constitution Center, Philadelphia, PA
🔗Learn more and register by August 31, 2026 with this link: https://constitutioncenter.org/calendar/federalism-in-action-teaching-japanese-american-incarceration

Space is limited. Register now to reserve your spot!

08/21/2026

“And looking at that document, I still remember vividly thinking, ‘Oh, my God. This is amazing. This is like a smoking gun.’”

In this installment of 30 Stories for 30 Years, Attorney and legal scholar Peter Irons recalls the moment he found the “smoking gun” that proved government officials had intentionally suppressed and altered evidence in lawsuits challenging the imposed curfews during WWII and forced exclusion orders imposed on J*panese Americans. This discovery led to the reopening of three landmark cases of Fred Korematsu, Gordon Hirabayashi, and Min Yasui, who had been convicted for violating the military's wartime orders. All of which were overturned in a coram nobis process.

While working with activist Aiko Yoshinaga-Herzig in 1981, who was researching for the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians (CWRIC), Irons recalls discovering a memo from the Justice Department archives in which Edward Ennis, director of the Alien Enemy Control Unit during the incarceration, told Solicitor General Charles Fahy that the government had information refuting a War Department report claiming that J*panese Americans were disloyal. Ennis argued that withholding the information from the U.S. Supreme Court might approximate suppression of evidence.

Irons was stunned as he realized that this document revealed and essentially admitted government wrongdoing. Later, he unearthed additional documents showing that government attorneys engaged in legal misconduct.

Meticulous organization and preservation of documents, such as this “smoking gun” that would change the course of history, further emphasize the importance of keeping NARA facilities open and readily accessible by the public. If you want to hear more first-person accounts, make a gift to Densho today at https://densho.donorsupport.co/-/XGPMCEFQ

08/20/2026

In a conversation with Densho’s Education and Public Programs Manager Courtney Wai, Teaching Fellow James Yudhistira Lemuel describes how and why he contributed to the development of the Densho Education Framework—a set of ten guidelines for teaching about the WWII J*panese American incarceration. James draws on his own experiences as a history and math teacher in Leander, Texas, while offering practical insights into how K–12 teachers can use the framework to deepen and expand how they teach this history.

Learn more about the Densho Education Framework and how James contributes his interdisciplinary teaching approach to Densho to develop ethnic studies curriculum for K-12 teachers and youth at densho.org/catalyst/educator-spotlight-james-lemuel/

08/18/2026

In what ways has Densho impacted you? Is there a meaningful oral history or family collection that has stayed with you? Has a member of your family contributed their story to Densho? Is there a staff or board member who left a lasting impression? Consider sharing your reflections in a Densho Anniversary Card at https://densho.org/30th-anniversary-cards/!

Without your support, Densho would not be the invaluable resource it is today. We invite you to share your thoughts and celebrate our milestone year by writing us a brief anniversary card, available at the link.

Your message will not only be a treasured gift to the organization, but it will also be featured in 30th-year programming, social media, and other public content, with your permission. When submitting a message, you will have the option to make your card private or anonymous.

Thank you for sharing your message with our community and helping to celebrate 30 years!

08/14/2026

We are excited to announce Densho’s 30th Anniversary Gala: Legacy in Motion. Densho is celebrating thirty years, and we invite you to an evening of connection, conversation, and community. This will be our first in-person gala since 2020!

UPDATE: Tickets are now sold out! Thank you for your support and interest!

The evening will begin with a festive reception and feature Taiko drumming and folk music by NW Minyo Kai, as well as the premiere of Densho’s new documentary short film. Hear from Executive Director Naomi Ostwald Kawamura and Founding Executive Director Tom Ikeda, and raise a glass to Content Director Brian Niiya as he begins his retirement. The evening will include drinks, appetizers, dinner, and dessert.

To commemorate this milestone, we will share memories, toast to those who came before us, and reflect on the impact of our work. Please join us in celebrating all we have accomplished together, as we step into our next era of preservation, education, and stewardship.

With gratitude,
All of Us at Densho

08/13/2026

For this installment of 30 Stories for 30 Years, we are sharing a segment from Yoshimi Matsuura’s oral history interview where he recalls facing racism and housing discrimination when resettling in Minneapolis, Minnesota after being released from Gila River.

Many decades later, Matsuura was still clearly able to picture the face of the woman who said "I'm not renting to a J*p" before spitting in his face. The humiliation stained his memory, and became something he never wanted to speak about, even to his own family. When asked about how his search went, he simply said that he did not get the apartment. “I didn't tell anybody what happened, nobody. I didn't even tell my family. I didn't tell my family about that until years and years and years later. I didn't walk to talk about the humiliation, it just... it was terrible.”

Densho is grateful to be trusted with memories like this sensitive one from Yoshimi Matsuura. Please support us in documenting more stories, and safeguarding them for future generations. Make a donation today at densho.org/give