Stories

Poet Lawson Inada and his son, Miles Inada, an artist, render a Sansei and Yonsei (second and third generation) look at the Japanese American incarceration experience. Read the poetry and watch the film>

 

Read the incredible tale of Mr. Nagashima's luggage as described in the court transcript at his trial to recover money for his lost luggage. More>

 

On January 29, 1943, The War Department announced a new registration program in order to approve incarcerated Japanese Americans for military service or relocation to the midwest or east coast. The WRA began administering the loyalty questionnaire to all internees over 17 years of age on February 3rd.The registration program became a crisis for individuals, families, and communities in Tule Lake. Incarcerees did not know what the consequences of their answers would be, but knew it could determine their futures for years to come. There's no single reason behind the incarcerees' answers. This account, written several years later at an Army prison, explains why this anonymous person refused to register and answer the loyalty questionnaire.