March 2021
Women's History Month

Happy Women's History Month from Densho! Follow along as we highlight some of the incredible women from our archives and encyclopedia. And we want to hear about your mom, your aunties, and your bachans too! Tell us about the Japanese American women in your life and how they inspire you! Tag us @denshoproject and use #DenshoWomensHistory on social media and we might feature you throughout the month of March.

To start, take a peek at some of our most popular blog posts about Japanese American women:
Nisei Radicals: A Book Launch and Conversation with Diane Fujino and Mitsuye Yamada

In her new book, Nisei Radicals: The Feminist Poetics and Transformative Ministry of Mitsuye Yamada and Michael Yasutake, Diane Fujino reveals a radical lineage of Japanese American activism through the lives of feminist poet, Mitsuye Yamada and her brother, Michael Yasutake. 

In honor of women’s history month, we welcome Diane Fujino to discuss her book and the role that Mitsuye Yamada’s political activism played in building the Asian American and US Third World women’s movements and support for political prisoners. After presenting her book, Fujino will be joined by Yamada for a discussion about the ways her poetry intertwines with her personal life, while also illuminating Japanese American women’s lives, and about the importance of speaking out against racism. 

Presented by Densho with Elliott Bay Book Company and the University of Washington Press. Funding for this event was provided, in part, by the City of Seattle Office of Arts & Culture.
New K-12 Teacher Workshop Offered in Partnership with Tacoma Art Museum

Densho has teamed up with the Tacoma Art Museum (TAM) to offer a workshop for K-12 teachers on March 11, 4-6pm PDT. We’ll explore the works of Kenjiro Nomura, an artist who was incarcerated at the Minidoka concentration camp during World War II, and consider how art sheds light on our history and present. You’ll come away from the workshop with discussion prompts, Thinking Routines, and creative practices to help you teach about the WWII incarceration of Japanese Americans.
Join the Densho Team!

We are excited to announce that we’re expanding our team through the addition of three new staff positions. We are seeking a Fund Development Director, a Development Assistant, and an Accountant to help grow our organization and ensure that we can continue working to preserve the stories of Japanese American incarceration for decades to come. Please help us spread the word by sharing these listings with any qualified candidates you know! 
Oral History Spotlight: Working in the Office of Redress Administration

During the Redress Movement, Martha Watanabe worked for the Department of Justice's Office of Redress Administration (ORA), which was established to identify and administer reparations payments to WWII incarceration survivors. In this clip, she recalls the emotional reaction of her ORA colleagues at the first redress check ceremony.
Photo Essay: Day of Remembrance Caravan from Puyallup to Northwest Detention Center

Last weekend, we joined our friends at Tsuru for Solidarity, Seattle JACL, Puyallup Valley JACL, the Minidoka Pilgrimage Planning Committee, and La Resistencia for a Day of Remembrance caravan from the Puyallup Fairgrounds to Tacoma’s Northwest Detention Center. About 60 cars bearing signs, tsuru, and protest artwork showed up to remember Japanese American WWII incarceration, and demand freedom and justice for immigrants who are unjustly detained today. We’re feeling humbled and grateful to be part of this powerful day of action. Check out the photos from the day here!
STAY CONNECTED:
Facebook ‌ Twitter ‌ Instagram ‌ YouTube ‌