“Soldiers’ Stories” Photos

Here are a few photos from our Veterans’ Day program, “Soldiers’ Stories” on November 7, 2024 at J-Sei. We had over 40 people attending in person, with an additional 40-50 joining online, including visitors to the Moab Museum in Utah, which is currently hosting our Topaz Stories Traveling Exhibit through December.

Portraits of 4 Japanese American speakers speaking at a podium: two senior men and two senior women.
The speakers were Kevin Takei, who shared his dad Gene’s story; Tracy Takayanagi Hui, who talked about her dad’s experiences in the OSS; Wilbur Obata, who read the story of John Harano‘s ultimate sacrifice; and Ruth Sasaki, who shared the story about “The Oda Boys.” (Photos courtesy of Ruth Sasaki and Chris Yamashiro.)
A large audience watches a senior Japanese American speaker at a podium; the screen shows a photo of the speaker's father in U.S. Army uniform, and the Tanforan Assembly Center guard tower. Second photo shows four Japanese American siblings, a spouse, and several children posing in front of their father/grandfather's story.
Kevin Takei addresses the audience (courtesy of Kimi Hill); the Takei family poses in front of Gene Takei’s story — Kevin’s wife Celeste (2nd from left); their children, Bryan (far left) and Kristy (far right); sister Dawn Ishisaki (3rd from left); sister Dina Kanaya (2nd from right), and Kristy’s sons, Matthew and Timothy (courtesy of Ruth Sasaki).
Japanese American soldier in uniform and backpack with rifle; Same soldier in uniform with elderly parents, brother, wife and son in front of a barrack behind barbed wire. Another soldier in uniform with parents and young siblings in a concentration camp; next to a photo of the same soldier decades later.
The program concluded with a tribute to Nisei soldiers in WWII: a photo montage. Shown here are Takeshi Yatabe, who fought in Europe, and visiting his family in Topaz (courtesy of Jon Yatabe); and Frank Takeuchi, who also fought in Europe and visited his family in Topaz (courtesy of Roy Takeuchi and Pam Tanaka).
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