Yakima Commemorates Japanese American Incarceration History

The Yakima Valley Museum will recognize the Japanese Day of Remembrance on February 19 with a special event and you are invited. The day will honor the memory of the more than 120,000 Japanese Americans who were incarcerated during World War II following the signing of Executive Order 9066 in 1942.

EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY WITH A PANEL DISCUSSION

The event aims to educate the community about the chapter in American history and to share personal stories from community members. The evening will feature a panel discussion with Dr. Yesenia Navarrete Hunter, an Associate Professor of History at Heritage University.

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THE KEYNOTE SPEECH FROM YAKIMA'S BLAINE TAMAKI OF TAMAKI LAW

Panelists include Lon Inaba of Inaba Produce Farm and Japanese Bochi, Tammy Ayer from the Yakima Herald-Republic, and Caitlin Oiye Coon from Densho, an organization dedicated to preserving Japanese American history. Blaine Tamaki of Tamaki Law will deliver the keynote speech, sharing insights and reflections on this important history.

IT'S FREE BUT YOU'RE ENCOURAGED TO PRE-REGISTER

The event is sponsored by the Yakima Valley Museum and the Blaine and Preciosa Tamaki Foundation. Admission is free, but if you attend you're encouraged to pre-register at yvmuseum.org. A news release says the event provides an opportunity for reflection, education, and community connection as Yakima honors its Japanese American heritage and the experiences of those impacted by the incarceration.
Doors will open at 5:00 p.m., with the program starting at 5:30 p.m.