Category: Updates

View Other Categories

The 2024 Japanese American Leadership Delegation with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

Naomi Ostwald Kawamura: Building Community and Connection that Transcends Borders

In early March, I had the opportunity to be part of the 2024 Japanese American Leadership Delegation (JALD), a program jointly supported by the US-Japan Council and Japan’s Ministry of…

Densho staff with speakers and performers at the 2023 virtual fundraiser. They are gathered on a stage in front of a background that reads Our Voices Will Not Be Silenced.

Highlights from Densho’s 2023 Virtual Fundraiser: Our Voices Will Not Be Silenced

Thank you to everyone who tuned in on October 5 for Densho’s 2023 virtual fundraiser, Our Voices Will Not Be Silenced! 

Caution This object is protected by copyright. You must ask permission from the rights holder if you re-use or publish it elsewhere, unless your project falls under a fair-use exception. Learn more... AddThis Sharing Buttons Share to Facebook Share to TwitterShare to More PARTNER CSU Japanese American History Digitization Project Visit partner OBJECT ID ddr-csujad-26-92 (CSUJAD Local ID: mei_05_029, CSUJAD Project ID: ucsb_mei_0092) PARENT COLLECTION UC Santa Barbara Robert Billigmeier Collection DESCRIPTION Two young Japanese American boys doing schoolwork write in notebooks. A chalkboard is blurred in the background.

Counting Down Our Top 10 Reads from the Densho Catalyst in 2022

As we approach the end of 2022, we’re looking back at the highs — and lows — of the past year. Here are this year’s top ten most-read pieces from…

Tom Ikeda and Naomi Ostwald Kawamura in conversation seated on stage during filming of the Densho Virtual Gala. Ikeda is handing off a baseball trophy to Naomi that was gifted to him by a Nisei community leader when he first started at Densho.

Highlights from the 2022 Densho Virtual Gala: Telling Our Next Story

Thank you to everyone who joined us on November 3 to make the Densho Virtual Gala a very special event! Even though we weren’t able to gather in person, we…

Naomi Ostwald Kawamura

Introducing Densho’s New Executive Director

After an exhaustive national and international search, the Densho Board of Directors is pleased to announce Naomi Ostwald Kawamura is the organization’s next Executive Director. Ostwald Kawamura will join Densho…

Danielle Higa with two Densho colleagues and community members at the 2019 Heart Mountain pilgrimage.

A New Chapter for Densho Fund Development Manager Danielle Higa

We’re sharing the bittersweet news that Densho Fund Development Manager Danielle Higa is taking on a new role as a Senior Associate at the Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group. While we’re…

Japanese American artist leaning over a canvas painting

Densho 2022 Artist Residency Program: Call for Proposals

Densho’s 2022 artist program theme, Answering the Archive, pulls focus on the individual and collective responses that archival materials elicit, and on the actions they call upon us to take….

Japanese Americans working in an administrative office at Minidoka concentration camp.

We’re Looking for Our Next Executive Director—and We Need Your Help!

We are excited to announce that Densho has officially launched the search for our new Executive Director. You can view the full position profile here.

Highlights from Densho’s 25th Anniversary Gala

This past Saturday, we celebrated Densho’s 25th anniversary at a very special event. Nearly 800 households tuned in for a live show featuring music, dance, art, and story. (Don’t worry,…

Densho’s Oral History Program Is Back after a Pandemic Pause

Like many oral history projects, we’ve spent much of the last 18 months adapting and adjusting to meet the challenges of the pandemic. Knowing that elders and communities of color…

How 9/11 Changed Us

In commemoration of the 20th anniversary of September 11th, Executive Director Tom Ikeda shares his recollections of the aftermath of the attacks and how it radically reshaped Densho’s focus.

Graphic with a collage of photos and artwork from Gidra. Text reads "Truth is not always pretty. A radical history and zine making workshop. August 19, 11am-1pm."

“Truth Is Not Always Pretty”: A Radical History and Zine Making Workshop

High school students (ages 14-18) are invited to join Densho for a hands-on history and zine-making workshop on August 19th, 2021. Drawing upon the lessons handed down to us from…

Sites of Shame traces the paths of Japanese Americans forced into camps during WWII

Joe Yasutake was only nine years old when his father was apprehended by the FBI and interned as an enemy alien. In a matter of hours following the attack on…

In Conversation: Artists Lauren Iida and Erin Shigaki

Earlier this year, Densho artist-in-residence Lauren Iida sat down with Erin Shigaki — a longtime Densho friend, designer, and artist — for a conversation about how their art is influenced…

Announcing Densho’s 2021 Artists-in-Residence

We are thrilled to introduce you to Lauren Iida and Molly Murakami, the talented artists who will be joining Densho for our third annual artist residency program. Both Lauren and…

Join Densho for a Week of Action and Remembrance

This year we mark the anniversary of Executive Order 9066 with a full week of action and remembrance. Join us each day between February 14th and 21st as we dig…

Black and white photo of a group of young Japanese Americans climbing Castle Rock in the snow. Three are walking up the hill holding hands, and three more behind them are pulling a sled.

Winter Events Calendar

Looking for ways to stay cozy and connected as the weather gets colder? Here’s a list of upcoming digital events offered by Densho and other community partners this winter. We’ll…

Join us: Densho Dinner @ Home on October 24

Our history shows that in moments of turmoil, our connections to one another matter more than ever. While we can’t come together in person, we can still be in community with each other to collectively remember our past and affirm our commitment to action. Join Densho for an inspiring evening of community, remembrance and solidarity. Together we can transform this challenging time into a moment for powerful social change. Join us for a one-of-a-kind virtual event on Saturday, October 24th.

Densho Dinner @ Home: Sushi, Sake, and Cocktails

The Densho Dinner @ Home experience wouldn’t be complete without sushi and sake! Our friends in the Seattle area can now order sushi kits from area restaurants — Sushi Kashiba, Ten Sushi, and I Love Sushi — that you can enjoy at home while watching the Densho Dinner on October 24th. Try pairing your sushi with sake recommendations from the Sake School of America.

Densho Events Calendar

We may not be able to come together in person anytime soon, but you can rest assured that we’re working hard to expand our digital offerings and create virtual gathering…

Densho Community Hour with Executive Director Tom Ikeda

At this moment, we are all trying to comprehend the gravity of recent tragic events and the constantly changing COVID-19 situation. Many of us are processing feelings of frustration, anger,…

Announcing a Virtual Teach-In on the History of Xenophobia (and what we can do to combat it)

Join us for a virtual teach-in that will deepen your understanding of American xenophobia and racism, using Japanese American WWII incarceration and the current crisis of immigrant detention as case…

Announcing a New Digital Genealogy Series

Densho is pleased to announce a new digital genealogy series with Linda Harms Okazaki, noted expert in Japanese American genealogy. All sessions will be held on Zoom and advance registration…

Highlights from Densho’s 2019 Artist Initiative

As we witness everyday reminders that “Never Again” is right now, it’s become clear that stories of Japanese American WWII incarceration matter today more than ever. Last year we launched…