Concentrational Resonance
A project-in-progress about the Japanese American Concentration Camps during World War II that involves personal family history, literary excavation, resource sharing, essays, poetry, site visits, presentations, pilgrimage organzation, photography, and more.
In the summer of 2021, my wife and I took a road trip that included a stop in Arkansas to visit the site of the Rohwer concentration camp. This was where my grandparents, and their extended families, were unjustly incarcerated during World War II. It was an incredibly moving and resonant experience. I took in a great deal while wandering the site, but what hit me hardest was how much I didn’t know about my Grandparents’ story. I was inspired to learn more, and to get more involved in documenting and creating awareness of the Japanese American incarceration experience during World War II.
Since this initial road trip, which also included visiting the Jerome site, my wife and I have visited three more of the ten concentration camps: Tule Lake in California, Minidoka in Idaho, and Topaz in Utah. I’ve made multiple trips to the National Archives to do research on the War Relocation Authority’s concentration camp photo collection, which includes photographs taken by my Grandfather. And I now serve on the planning and fundraising committees for the Jerome Rohwer Pilgrimage.
I also publish a newsletter — Concentrational Resonance — to share information about projects and events involving the concentration camp sites — exhibits, pilgrimages, art projects, books, archives, community news and more. You can read past issues and subscribe here.
If you are interested in learning more about the Jerome Rohwer Pilgrimage, have questions about your own independent visit to the Rohwer and Jerome sites, or you would to share information about a related project that you are working on, feel free to drop me a note.
Subscribe to the Concentrational Resonance Newsletter
Every month, you will receive a newsletter featuring updates on projects and happenings related to the WWII Japanese American concentration camp sites. This includes exhibits, books, art projects, pilgrimages, archives, and community news. The goal is bring awareness to current and upcoming projects related to the camps, and to grow and forge connections in the community of people who are learning, preserving, and sharing the history of the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II.
The Role of Photography in the Pilgrimage Experience
Featured panel in JAMP’s 2023 Tadaima Program
A panel and discussion on the role of photography — past, present, and future — in the camp pilgrimage experience — how historical images and contemporary photos of the camps and their survivors/descendants help us navigate and process our understanding (including all the things we will never know) of the World War II Japanese American incarceration experience. Documentary photographer Haruka Sakaguchi discussed her in-progress project Campu: An American Story, which showcases portraits and testimonies of survivors and their descendants at their respective camps. Photographer Sandy Sugawara presented her recently published photography book Show Me the Way To Go To Home (co-authored by Catiana Garcia Kilroy), which features photographs of the 10 incarceration camps as they stand today. And author Jeffrey Yamaguchi shared an in-progress project about the photography of his Grandfather, Fred Yamaguchi, who ran the Rohwer Photo Studio at the Rohwer concentration camp.
The Literature of Japanese American Incarceration
Presentation at the 2024 Jerome Rohwer Pilgrimage Featuring Frank Abe in Conversation with Jeffrey Yamaguchi.
When I first started exploring the books and writings about the WWII Japanese American incarceration by the people who experienced it, I quickly realized much of the work was buried in digital archives. And so many of the books are out of print, so I would purchase through eBay or rare book dealers. But early on, and this would be the case for anyone doing a similar type of exploration around this subject, I was fortunate to came upon the work of Frank Abe. And when he announced that he was co-editing (with Floyd Cheung) a Penguin Classics anthology — The Literature of Japanese American Incarceration — I was absolutely thrilled. Not only would this make the work more accessible, but it would also provide a literary roadmap for people interested in learning more about this important part of our history.
Fast forward to the recent Jerome Rohwer Pilgrimage, where I got to introduce and moderate a conversation with Frank — what an honor and a privilege. Frank has been a key chronicler and advocate over the long haul for the Japanese American community — he has put in the work — and it was wonderful to have him share Jerome and Rohwer specific history and insights showcased in the new anthology, as well as in his graphic novel We Hereby Refuse.