MAKE-UP ASSIGNMENT (1 of 1) - Japanese American National Museum

Yesterday, I visited the Japanese American National Museum downtown at East 1st Street and Alameda. I toured the current exhibit on display of the traditional art of flower arrangements, ikebana. The colorful arrangements vary in size, design, and style. The exhibit includes contemporary art pieces alongside the arrangements as well as photos.

Upstairs on the second floor is the permanent exhibit of the Japanese internment during WWII. I was startled by the first piece, which is an actual barrack from a relocation camp. I learned that “relocation camp” is considered a euphemism for what the Japanese Americans consider as a prison or concentration camp. The barrack reminded me of the slave quarters I have visited in the south on the antebellum plantations. It was a chilling emotional experience to view the barrack that is situated in a way that makes you feel like you are inside. The rooms housed families of 2-3 persons in a 20 X 16 space with a stove. These barracks were generally overcrowded.

I was intrigued by the sign at the entrance to the exhibit which defines Community: “culture binds us together…community is not just where you live, but who your are…forming a community is a process…Japanese community is as much about spirit as place…common ground all Americans, all peoples.” I could not help referring back to this sign and its relevance throughout the tour.

After spending a considerable about of time at the barrack, I moved on and was approached by a docent named Roy Kayudo. Roy asked me if I knew why the Japanese came to America? This was quite an introduction. Roy explained that the first Japanese arrived in Hawaii in 1868 as laborers for the sugar plantations. They were fleeing drought conditions, economic depression, and seeking a better way of life while American businessmen were looking for a new source of labor due to the Chinese Exclusion Act. Roy shared his personal story with me.

Roy’s grandfather was the first to arrive in Hawaii where he was contracted to work for three years. The working and living conditions were poor, but he earned 70 cents per day, which was considered a good wage for the time period. He also encountered racism. Laborers were expected to return to Japan at the conclusion of their contract and were by law “aliens ineligible for citizenship.” Fortunately, Roy’s grandfather was offered a job working on a farm in Garden Grove, California.

The farmer was hiring laborers to harvest chili peppers, so he accepted the job and remained in the U.S. for another seven years bringing over his family from Japan. After working for a total of ten years in the U.S., Roy’s grandfather saved enough money to retire and return to Japan. Roy’s uncle was also financially able to retire and return home, but soon loss his fortune gambling. An interesting fact is that his uncle repeated this experience three times, returning to the U.S to realize the American dream and again loosing it at home in Japan. This says a lot about the economic opportunities for Japanese immigrants, particularly on the west coast.

Roy explained that it was this economic prosperity of the Japanese in the U.S. that led to internment, not the fear of disloyalty or espionage during WWII. The Japanese were very successful entrepreneurs and farmers in the early 20th century. A report directed by the U.S. government, known as the Munson Report, proved that Japanese immigrants were not a threat. However, this fact was hidden from the public. Instead, the president issued Executive Order 9066 interning 110,000, 2/3's of which were Americans, and another 2,260 from Latin American countries. With Roy’s personal story in mind, the tour came to life for me as I viewed the wealth of artifacts on display in this exhibit. I experienced a range of emotions as I connected what I saw to Roy and his family. I realized that they were members of my community. There are many personal stories throughout this exhibit. I plan to share this educational tour experience with my students next year. I believe it is an excellent lesson in empathy.

Valerie