Extended to Thurs 9/25, 3 pm

The Gate of Memory, a community reading and book signing

Saturday, July 12, 2 pm

J-Sei

The Gate of Memory, edited by Brynn Saito and Brandon Shimoda, is an anthology of poetry on Nikkei incarceration, written by descendants of the WWII prisons and camps.

Immerse yourself surrounded by a chorus of voices by descendents of Nikkei wartime incarcerees. Hear from Bay Area contributors: Brian Komei Dempster, Sharon Fujimoto-Johnson, Lauren Fujimoto-Johnson, Steve Fujimura, Rebecca A. Green, Jodi Hottel, Susan Kiyo Ito, Amanda Mei Kim, Casey Hidekawa Lane/Levinski, Ali Meyers-Ohki, Ryan Hitoshi Nakano, Miya Sommers, Dana Swensen, Syd Westley, Doug Yamamoto, and Lauren Emiko Ito.  The book reading, hosted by Brandon Shimoda, will be followed by a light reception, book sales and signing.

A tribute to the 150,000 people incarcerated by the United States and Canada during WWII, this anthology is the first of its kind. The poetry expresses a range of experiences and perspectives from the afterlife of this historical yet enduring injustice. With a foreword by acclaimed poet, activist, and concentration camp survivor, Mitsuye Yamada, and an introduction by the editors, poets Brynn Saito and Brandon Shimoda, The Gate of Memory (published by Haymarket Press, April 2025) explores intergenerational trauma as the contributors, all of whom are descendants of those who were incarcerated, sift through an intimate record of wartime incarceration.

“This is the exact right moment for this book. It’s evidence of how traumas survive, flowing from one generation to the next. It’s a roadmap for defying guilt, shame and silence. It’s an invitation to speak up, to record and share stories even if they’re incomplete or fading. It asks us to listen, to ask questions and to take action.” —Amy Hirayama, International Examiner, April 2025

“This pilgrimage of poems, blessed by elder poets Mitsuye Yamada and Lawson Inada, is here gifted at The Gate of Memory. Our parents, who once named that memory ambiguously “camp,” have passed beyond that gate. May these words render solace, rise as haunting stars to light our way.” —Karen Tei Yamashita

This program is co-sponsored by Nikkei Resisters and J-Sei.

RSVP for in-person or online for this free event.

CAPTURING MOMENTS

A Closing Program for the “Gambatte!” Exhibit with Photojournalists Paul Kitagaki, Jr and Renée C. Byer

Saturday, July 19, 1 pm

Join us for a rare opportunity to hear from the Pulitzer Prize-winning duo Paul Kitagaki, Jr and Renée C. Byer, whose photos capture the deep emotion held tight by their subjects and are amplified by their craft as photo journalists to tell the stories of the moment. Hear from this dynamic husband and wife duo, on the view from their lens and how these captured moments help bring people together to create change.

While Kitagaki’s “Gambatte! Legacy of an Enduring Spirit” is currently on view at J-Sei, the program will highlight photos from his collection, covering Sports, including 10 Olympics, earthquakes and other World events throughout his career.

Byer’s “Living on a Dollar a Day” has documented individuals and families on the brink of survival, by visiting 10 countries on 4 continents.

We will be joined by media producer Wendy Hanamura as moderator for this conversation. Over her 30+-year career in the media, Wendy has reported and produced stories around the world for Time, CBS, World Monitor Television, NHK (Japanese Broadcasting Corporation), LinkTV and PBS. In 2014 she joined the Internet Archive—the world’s largest digital library– as the Director of Partnerships. Wendy began her career as a photo editor for Time Magazine in New York. Her 1983 thesis took her to Hiroshima to live with and photograph aging hibakusha, survivors of the atomic bombing.

This event is the Closing Program for “Gambatte! Legacy of An Enduring Spirit” featuring contemporary photos by Paul Kitagaki, Jr that complement and mirror the original photographs of Lange and her counterparts and that reveal the strength and perseverance of his subjects. To learn more about the exhibit and book, click here.

RSVP for this free event.

Feature photo: Paul Kitagaki, Jr and Renée C. Byer at “Open Your Eyes” exhibit in Zurich, 2023.

Mother’s Love – Ghana, Child Herder – Bolivia, Photos by Renée C. Byer

Renée C. Byer is a catalyst for change. She is an award-winning documentary photojournalist, videographer and multimedia field producer best known for her in-depth work focusing on the disadvantaged and those who otherwise would not be heard. Her ability to produce photographs with profound emotional resonance and sensitivity earned her the Pulitzer Prize for feature photography in 2007 and dozens of national and international honors, including the World Understanding Award from Pictures of the Year International, and Pulitzer Finalist in 2013. Byer’s internationally acclaimed book, “Living on a Dollar a Day: The Lives and Faces of the World’s Poor,” illuminates the stories of people living on the brink of survival, and invites you to put an end to extreme poverty. The book won First Place Documentary Book from the International Photography Awards in 2014.