Discover the History ofWWII Incarceration
120,000 Japanese Americans were unjustly incarcerated during World War II. Learn about this unprecedented denial of civil liberties and why it still matters today.
Explore Personal Stories
Learn about Japanese American history and the legacy of WWII incarceration by exploring personal stories from those who lived through it.
Promote Equity Today
History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes. Join us in putting the lessons of Japanese American WWII incarceration into action today.
Campu: A Podcast
Campu weaves together the voices of survivors to spin narratives out of the seemingly mundane things that gave shape to the incarceration experience: rocks, fences, food, paper. Follow along as hosts Hana and Noah Maruyama move far beyond the standard Japanese American incarceration 101 and into more intimate and lesser-known corners of this history.
Densho Catalyst: History, Essays, & Opinion
Dive into hidden histories and learn why these stories matter today with the latest essays and opinions from Densho and other community voices.
Tom Ikeda: My Retirement from Densho
After 26 years at the helm of Densho as the organization’s founding executive director, Tom Ikeda is announcing his pending retirement. Read a message from Tom below—and join us for...
Introducing the Memory Net Remembrance Project
In recognition of the 80th anniversary of Executive Order 9066, Densho is launching a new community art initiative: the Memory Net Remembrance Project. In collaboration with Densho resident artist Lauren...
Notable Nisei Born 100 Years Ago
One hundred years ago, we were in the midst of a Nisei baby boom, and thus, there are many Nisei whose 100th birthdays deserve some special celebration in 2022. These...Stay Informed: Join The Mailing List
Encyclopedia
Thousands of articles about the history of the Japanese American WWII exclusion and incarceration experience. Here are a few to get you started:
Salinas (detention facility)
The Salinas Assembly Center was located at the Salinas Race Track and Fair Grounds. Its inmate population consisted of Japanese Americans from the nearby agricultural communities of Watsonville, Salinas, and Gilroy.
Okinawa Relief/Reconstruction Movement
At the end of WWII, the Ryukyu Islands were governed by the U.S. military under a separate jurisdiction from the rest of Japan. As a result, desperately needed relief goods and donations could not be distributed to Okinawa.
Hugh Macbeth
Hugh Ellwood Macbeth, Sr. (1884-1956), a black attorney active in Los Angeles and the leader of California's Race Relations Commission, was an outstanding wartime defender of Japanese Americans.