TOPAZ STORIES

Exhibit extended to January 31, 2025

Gallery Open: Mondays & Thursdays, 10 am to 4 pm; Friday, 10 am to 1 pm

Or by appointment, group or docent tours available. Contact jill@j-sei.org

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.

Program Schedule 2024 – see video recordings of past programs

Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024 – Children of Topaz: Stories and Art, a kid-oriented program (adults
are welcome!) with Dana Shew and special guests, held  in conjunction with J-Sei’s
annual “Family Day.” 

Watch on J-Sei YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/Ah4-TvMOV2c 

Thursday, Oct. 3 – Dispersed: The WWII Scattering of the Japanese American Community.
stories by Jun Dairiki, Jean Hibino, Mitsi Nakamizo Fuchigami, and Joseph Nishimura 

Watch on J-Sei YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/bDjR2a8ci4A 

Sunday, Oct. 13 – The Lost Sketches of Topaz: Ella Honderich’s Topaz Years by Ella’s
granddaughter, Cynthia Wright

Watch on J-Sei YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/ONyGdEGlLlY 

Thursday, Nov. 7 – Soldiers’ Stories by Eugene Takei, Tracy Takayanagi Hui, and Ruth Sasaki

Watch on J-Sei YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/EoJKstWJKOg  

Saturday, Nov. 23 – Wartime Friends and Allies of Japanese Americans, stories by Frank
Kami, Jonathan Hirabayashi, Doris Yagi, and Jon Yatabe and Ruth Sasaki

Thursday, Dec. 5 – Return to California: Stories of Postwar Resettlement by Kazuko Iwahashi, Michi Mukai, Harue Minamoto, and Meri Mitsuyoshi 

Watch on J-Sei YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/nbrV_RJiXqk 

J-Sei Movie Night – DVDs and discussion

J-Sei Movie Night members have been asking for a way to share their favorite films and learn about movies and TV shows that are available. In that spirit, we’ve initiated a program so that DVDs can circulate to interested folks.

At the same time, we’re providing a forum for discussion and feedback, to discuss films, TV shows, and any other media of interest. We’ve also expanded our project to include other Asian and American films and TV dramas in addition to Japanese films and programs.

J-Sei is hosting a series of Zoom meetings to talk about topics of interest. First up is K-dramas: what folks have enjoyed and are currently watching and what makes K-dramas so compelling. The first discussion was held in January 2022. The K-drama genre has proven to be so popular that it is continuing as an ongoing group meeting for fans, both beginners and aficionados!

Korean DVD & More. It shows a list of Korean TV dramas available for borrowing; there’s a separate sheet listing Japanese and Japanese American DVDs as well (if you’re interested, please let us know). The sheet shows series title/alternative title, year, synopsis, user ratings, and more. (Titles that are currently loaned out are highlighted in blue.) This resource list has been growing over time to include hundreds of DVDs of all kinds.

If you would like to borrow one or more items on the spreadsheet, please contact Jane Tanamachi (janetanama@yahoo.com). Please be sure to put “J-Sei DVD” in the subject line of your email.

All are welcome to participate — by borrowing or lending a DVD or by adding your feedback and ideas to our ongoing community chat.

Happy Viewing!

Connecting Across Generations: Bringing the Japanese American community together through conversations & food.

Saturday, September 7 @ 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm 

J-Sei 1285 66th St, Emeryville, CA

We will enjoy food together and have the opportunity to meet others in the community! This is a time for us to connect, engage in intergenerational conversations, and be in community.

Don’t forget to fill out this RSVP form! If you have questions please email: jill@j-sei.org. All are welcome!

Participating Orgs: Berkeley JACL, J-Sei, JAWA UCB, Young Professionals Network, UC Berkeley Asian American Research Center, JAYA, Berkeley Nikkei Student Union, Okaeri NorCal, Berkeley Buddhist Temple

We look forward to seeing you there!