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.
Celebrate Densho's 30th Anniversary
We invite you to celebrate our major milestone by writing Densho an Anniversary Card! We would love to hear how Densho has impacted you, your family, or your understanding of Japanese American history. Your message will be added to a compilation of 30th Anniversary Cards, featured at events and in other public content.
- Is there a meaningful oral history or family collection preserved by Densho that has had an impact on you or your family?
- Has a member of your family contributed their story, or collection, to Densho’s archives?
- Is there a Densho staff member who has helped or guided you or your research? Tell us how they made a difference.
- What impactful educational or historical resources from Densho have helped you learn more about this history?
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and reflections with our community. We are grateful for your support!
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.
Densho’s Plan to Protect At-Risk Records in National Archives Facilities
Since the publication of our article, Densho Opposes Plans to Close National Archives Facilities in Chicago and San Bruno, there has been significant community and legislative action taken to stop...
Exploring Seattle’s Prewar Japanese American Community through Densho’s Digital Archives
The Densho Digital Repository contains many images of prewar Japanese American communities, including those of thriving Nihonmachi along the West Coast. Densho Processing Archivist Dina Moreno curates a collection of...
Densho responds to racist logic of incarcerating Chinese Americans
Densho unequivocally condemns recent statements made on the podcast Timcast IRL suggesting that Chinese Americans should be incarcerated in the event of a war between China and the U.S. On...Upcoming Events
Densho 30th Anniversary Gala
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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.
Encyclopedia
Thousands of articles about the history of the Japanese American WWII exclusion and incarceration experience. Here are a few to get you started:
Documentary films/videos on incarceration
The following is an attempt at a comprehensive listing of documentary films/videos that include a significant treatment of Japanese Americans during World War II, broken up into several broad categories.
Scene (magazine)
Japanese American pictorial monthly magazine that ran from 1949 to 1955. Largely produced by and for Nisei, Scene magazine highlighted "successful" Japanese Americans as well as Japanese culture.
Owens Valley (detention facility)
The Owens Valley Reception Center—later the Manzanar Reception Center—was the first of the WCCA -administered short-term detention camps to open when the first "volunteers" from the Los Angeles area arrived on March 21, 1942.