From the Director: Tom Ikeda

Yesterday, in Washington DC, over 300 elderly Japanese American Army veterans helped accept the Congressional Gold Medal for the distinguished service of Japanese Americans during World War II. (See article below for more information.) Many of them served while their families were being held under guard behind barbed wires in the U.S. I've interviewed over 30 Japanese American World War II veterans and have heard difficult stories of heavy combat, being wounded, and losing dear friends. I am proud of these men and grateful that our country is honoring them.

This week I read an article in the New York Times about the mysterious death of a Chinese American soldier serving in Afghanistan who was subject to racist taunts by fellow soldiers. I believe the veterans I have interviewed would trade all their medals for a country that treats all soldiers with respect and dignity.

>> Read the New York Times article

Archive Spotlight

Sen. Daniel Inouye: Injured in Battle

Senator Daniel Inouye, longtime Senator from Hawaii, served with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team during World War II. In this clip, he describes a battle in which he lost his right arm, earning a Distinguished Service Cross which was later upgraded to the United States Medal of Honor. Senator Inouye's interview was conducted back in 1998, and is available in the Densho Digital Archive.

>> View the interview excerpt
>> Register for the free Densho Digital Archive

Densho News

Tickets Still Available for the Sushi & Sake Gala

Our annual Sushi & Sake Gala will be held on Thursday, November 10th, at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. You may purchase tickets online up through November 8th. Tickets will not be sold at the door. There will be fresh sushi prepared by fabulous local chefs and premium sake and Japanese beer served at the reception, which will be followed by a dinner with black cod and smoked chicken. Parking is available at the Cheesecake Factory garage on 7th and Pike for $8 with an event voucher, and at the Pacific Place garage on 6th and Pike for $6 after 5pm. Hotel valet parking is $27.

>> For more information
>> To purchase tickets

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National and Community News and Events

Media Coverage of Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony in Washington DC

The United States Senate and Members of Congress held a Congressional Gold Medal ceremony on November 2, 2011, in the Capitol, to honor Japanese American soldiers of the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, as well as veterans of the Military Intelligence Service. All three units were recognized for dedicated service during World War II. Below are some links to the press coverage of this ceremony.

>> NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams
>> C-Span
>> CNN
>> U.S. Army website
>> U.S. House of Representatives website
>> Atlanta Journal Constitution
>> ABC News
>> San Jose Mercury News
>> Politico

Painting Seattle: Kamekichi Tokita and Kenjiro Nomura

A new art exhibition recently opened at the Seattle Asian Art Museum in the Tateuchi Galleries. This exhibition features two painters, Kamekichi Tokita and Kenjiro Nomura, known in 1930s Seattle for their American realist style of landscape painting as they shared the cultural legacy of Japan and the active cultural life of Seattle's Japantown. This exhibition coincides with the recent book publication of Signs of Home: The Paintings and Wartime Diary of Kamekichi Tokita.

>> Information about the exhibit
>> Information about the book

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