TOPAZ STORIES 2024
September 22 to December 13
While a few of the stories in this exhibit were displayed in the Utah State Capitol in 2022, all are being exhibited in California for the first time. The stories provide intensely personal accounts of the forced removal; daily camp life; the dispersal of the Japanese American community through the resettlement program; the heroism of Nisei soldiers with families incarcerated behind barbed wire; the challenges of returning to California after the War; and the impact of the camp experience on survivors and subsequent generations, decades later.
The exhibit and events are presented by the Topaz Stories team and Friends of Topaz Museum, with support from J-Sei.
Topaz Stories Event Schedule
Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024 – Children of Topaz: Stories and Art, a kid-oriented program (adults
are welcome!) with Dana Shew and special guests (10:30-11:45 pm), in conjunction with J-Sei’s
annual “Family Day.” Register here.
Thursday, Oct. 3 – Dispersed: The WWII Scattering of the Japanese American Community.
stories by Jun Dairiki, Jean Hibino, Mitsi Nakamizo Fuchigami, and Joseph Nishimura (2-3:30
pm). Register here.
Sunday, Oct. 13 – The Lost Sketches of Topaz: Ella Honderich’s Topaz Years by Ella’s
granddaughter, Cynthia Wright (2-3:30 pm). Register here.
Thursday, Nov. 7 – Soldiers’ Stories by Eugene Takei, Tracy Takayanagi Hui, and Ruth Sasaki
(2-3:30 pm). Register here.
Saturday, Nov. 23 – Wartime Friends and Allies of Japanese Americans, stories by Frank
Kami, Jonathan Hirabayashi, Doris Yagi, and Jon Yatabe and Ruth Sasaki (2-3:30 pm). Register
here.
Thursday, Dec. 5 – Return to California: Stories of Postwar Resettlement by Kazuko Iwahashi, Michi Mukai, Harue Minamoto, and Meri Mitsuyoshi (2-3:30 pm). Register here.