From the Director: Tom Ikeda

I begin the New Year with gratitude and hope. Although deeply saddened by Senator Daniel Inouye's passing last month, I am grateful for his 71 years of public service, his commitment to the Japanese American community, and most of all, his efforts to redefine what people thought an American should look like. For example, through his meritorious military service during World War II that led to his award of the Medal of Honor, his election as the first Japanese American to the U.S. Congress in 1959, his keynote address during the tumultuous 1968 Democratic National Convention, his piercing questions during the 1973 Watergate hearings, and his funeral with ceremonies fit for a significant leader, Daniel Inouye was a national beacon for Americans to see and admire.

My hope is that the legacy of Senator Inouye and what happened to Japanese Americans incarcerated during World War II is a legacy that our country not only remembers, but a legacy that we learn from when we try to determine who will be a loyal American during the fear and confusion of our next national crisis. This would be a hope the Senator would approve.

Update on 2012 end-of-year giving campaign: Thanks to a $25,000 contribution from the Tateuchi Foundation, our end-of-year campaign netted $110,000 which is a 30% increase from last year (our previous best year.) Your generosity translates into us upping our program goals for 2013 with even more interviews preserved, more images scanned, more teachers trained, and more people reached! Thank you, and if you want to see us to do even more, please donate online, mail us a check at: Densho, 1416 S Jackson St., Seattle, WA 98144, or email me at tom.ikeda@densho.org with your ideas.

Archive Spotlight

Senator Daniel Inouye: Leadership Tactics During Combat

Senator Daniel Inouye served as an officer with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team during World War II. In this clip, he talks about his techniques for reducing casualties among the soldiers in his command. Senator Inouye's full interview is available in the Densho Digital Archive.

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

Densho News

Marketing and Communications Job Opening at Densho

Densho is seeking a Marketing and Communications Manager to develop and implement a plan to expand Densho's national reach to millions of people. The ideal candidate will have excellent writing skills, PR experience, knowledge of Japanese American history, strong technical skills, and social media experience. Please see the full job announcement for more information. Application deadline is Monday, January 14th.

>> Full job announcement: http://www.densho.org/assets/images/Marketing_Comm_Manager.pdf

Teaching the Teachers in Illinois

On Saturday, January 26th, the Densho team will be in Bloomington, Illinois, with its workshop, Teaching with Primary Sources: The World War II Incarceration of Japanese Americans. This workshop is supported by the Japanese American Confinement Sites Grant Program, administered by the National Park Service. Contact tom.ikeda@densho.org for more information about this workshop or to organize a teacher workshop in your city.

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Fred Korematsu Day Celebrations in San Francisco and Honolulu

The Korematsu Institute celebrates Fred Korematsu Day "Heroes" at 2:30pm on Sunday, January 27th at the Herbst Theater in San Francisco by honoring 16 civil rights heroes. In Honolulu, the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i celebrates Fred Korematsu Day at 6:00 pm in the Manoa Ballroom on Thursday, January 31st with Governor Abercrombie; Fred Korematsu's daughter, Karen Korematsu; and Professor Eric Yamamoto.

>> For more information