JACL Events
Upcoming events from JACL National, JACL Chapters, and JACL Partners
Events Calendar
*Note: All times listed are PST! Please double-check your local time.
Upcoming Events
*Note: All times listed are PST! Please double-check your local time.
Northern California Time of Remembrance (NCTOR) 2026
Northern California Time of Remembrance (NCTOR) 2026
Presented by Florin, Lodi, Placer County and Sacramento JACL Chapters
Preserving History
Saturday, February 14, 2026, 1:00-3:00 P.M.
California Museum: 1020 O St. Sacramento, CA 95814
During a time when our country questions the value of history, what supports a country’s democracy is not only its accomplishments and achievements, but its willingness to acknowledge, apologize, and correct its mistakes both current and past. Please join us to learn and be inspired by the work of Densho and the Ireichō Project to preserve history.
Naomi Ostwald Kawamura is the Executive Director of Densho [www.densho.org], a Seattle-based nonprofit and digital archive that preserves and shares the history of Japanese American wartime incarceration to promote equity and justice today. She holds a Ph.D. in Education from the University of British Columbia, where she teaches a course in museum practice. Her work with Japanese American and Japanese Canadian communities brings a comparative perspective to remembrance, redress, and reconciliation. Her current work examines how digital preservation and storytelling can confront historical erasure and strengthen democratic participation in an age of misinformation.
Duncan Ryuken Williams is the founder of the Ireichō Project [https://www.janm.org/exhibits/ireicho], the Alton Brooks Professor of Religion, and Director of the Shinso Ito Center for Japanese Religions and Culture at the University of Southern California. He has been ordained since 1993 as a Buddhist priest in the Soto Zen tradition. He served as the Buddhist chaplain at Harvard University where he received his Ph.D. His most recent project is the building of the Irei Names Monument, a memorial to honor those of Japanese ancestry who were incarcerated in America’s internment and concentration camps during WWII.
Admission Prices
$15 General admission
Free admission for college students
Free for children 18 and under
Day of Remembrance: Stories of Incarceration Through Media and Art
In commemoration of the 84th anniversary of Executive Order 9066, which authorized the WW II Japanese American concentration camps, Centenary United Methodist Church will host "Day of Remembrance: Stories of Incarceration Through Media and Art" on Sunday, February 15, at 12:30 pm.
A screening of the short film, "Misadventures of a Nisei Week Queen," featuring former Nisei Week Queen June Aochi Berk, will be followed by an insightful talk with her as she shares her experiences of being placed at Santa Anita Race Track Assembly Center and the Rohwer concentration camp. In addition, she will also discuss Presidential Proclamation25}5 and the Tuna Canyon Detention Center.
In addition to the film and discussion, an exhibition of selected paintings by the late renowned Japanese American artist Masato "Eddy" Kurushima will be available for viewing, and a performance by the Centenary Chikara Taiko drummers will round out the event followed by a reception.
"Day of Remembrance: Stories of Incarceration Through Media and Art" is open to the public, and there is no cost to attend.
Centenary UMC is located at 300 S. Central Avenue, on the corner of 3rd Street in Little Tokyo.
For more information, please contact the church office at (213) 617-9097; connect@centenaryD TLA. org.
Neighbors Not Enemies: Stronger Together: Carrying Light for Justice - SF Bay Area DOR
The San Francisco Bay Area will hold their Day of Remembrance, “Neighbors Not Enemies: Stronger Together: Carrying Light for Justice” from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 15 at the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California in San Francisco’s Japantown.
The Bay Area Day of Remembrance Consortium will host the Day of Remembrance, “Neighbors Not Enemies: Stronger Together: Carrying Light for Justice” on Sunday, Feb. 15 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the JCCCNC at 1840 Sutter St. in San Francisco’s Japantown. Info: (415) 567-5505.
Yonsei Memory Project 2026 Day of Remembrance
This year for Day of Remembrance, we offer virtual gatherings in our new initiative: School of Memory Keeping. We believe memory keeping can connect us and unlock portals of ancestral wisdom and creative power.
The week of Day of Remembrance, February 16 - 20 (11:30 am - 12:30 pm Pacific) each day will offer a one-hour guided memory keeping activity in a shared zoom room (register here!).
The memory keeping activities are short facilitated exercises designed to allow you to explore ancestors and remind us how exercising our imaginations and attention can bring us new understandings. Each day will offer a different activity. You are welcome to come to one, some, or all days.
In the spirit of the first Day of Remembrance in 1978, memory keeping of our Japanese American histories is profound, powerful, and political.
Join us for a supportive shared space to explore the past as it connects us to each other and can nourish us forward.
Boise Valley JACL - Day of Remembrance
The Boise Valley JACL will be holding a Day of Remembrance proclamation signing ceremony in the office of Governor Brad Little on Monday, February 16th at 1:30 p.m. Governor Little will preside over the ceremony.
This will be the 25th year that the Boise Valley JACL has been hosted by the sitting Governor of the State.
More informtation to come!
Portland Day of Remembrance: Farewell to Manzanar
Please join the Portland Japanese American Citizens League, the Japanese American Museum of Oregon, and the Portland'5 Centers for the Arts Department of Culture and Community, on February 16, 2026 to commemorate the Day of Remembrance with a special 50th Anniversary film screening of Farewell to Manzanar and panel discussion with Gabrielle Houston Neville, Carole Hayashino, and Frank Abe, moderated by Hanako Wakatsuki-Chong. There will be two screenings: a matinee starting at 2 pm and an evening show at 6:30 pm.
Farewell to Manzanar holds profound importance for Japanese Americans as the first major film adaptation to portray the wartime incarceration camps. Based on Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston's memoir, the film gave voice to over 120,000 Japanese Americans who were forcibly removed from their homes and detained during World War II. For many survivors and their descendants, this film represented the first time their families' experiences were validated and shared with mainstream America.
The film's widespread television broadcast educated millions of Americans about this constitutional violation, helping create the political and social climate that made the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 possible. This landmark legislation provided formal apologies and monetary reparations to surviving Japanese American incarcerees. The cultural impact of Farewell to Manzanar cannot be separated from the successful redress campaign that followed.
Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial — Day of Remembrance, 2026
Join the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial Association, the Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation, and Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District, for a day of stewardship to remember the 84th anniversary of the signing of Executive Order 9066.
Volunteers will help care for the grounds of this important Bainbridge Island park, including pruning vegetation, removing weeds, spreading mulch, and cleaning outdoor art features. All tools are provided.
This is a wonderful volunteer opportunity for all ages.
Event parking will be restricted due to construction at the upper Memorial site, and alternate parking locations will be announced soon. Volunteers can reach the stewardship event via a temporary entrance at the bus turnaround at Eagle Harbor Drive/Taylor Avenue.
Film and Conversation: Removed by Force: Day of Remembrance 2026
Join us at the National Museum of American History for a screening and panel discussion on the 2026 Day of Remembrance.
Film and Conversation: Removed by Force: Day of Remembrance 2026
Thursday, February 19, 2026, at 7:00 p.m.
1 Center: Warner Bros. Theater
Join us at the National Museum of American History for a screening and panel discussion on the 2026 Day of Remembrance. Removed by Force: The Eviction of Hawaiʻi’s Japanese Americans During World War II sheds light on the relatively unknown experiences of the 1,500 Americans of Japanese ancestry (AJA) from 23 geographic areas in Hawaiʻi who were evicted, but not interned, during World War II.
February 19, 2026, marks the 84th anniversary of the signing of Executive Order 9066 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt that led to the wrongful incarceration of 125,000 Japanese Americans during World War II.
After the screening, join us for a panel discussion featuring:
William Kaneko, former president, Honolulu Japanese American Citizens League; co-executive producer, Removed by Force. Kaneko coordinated the legal cases for the Hawaiʻi AJAs evicted from their homes.
Ryan Kawamoto, director and co-executive producer, Removed by Force. Kawamoto is an award-winning film director who has created several documentaries on the Hawaiʻi AJA incarceration experience.
Robert Bratt, former head of Redress, United States Department of Justice. Bratt was the lead DOJ administrator in charge of the Japanese American redress program.
Moderator: Lisa Sasaki, Deputy Under Secretary for Special Projects, Smithsonian Institution.
The National Museum of American History welcomes visitors of all ages and abilities. This event is wheelchair accessible. Captioning and assistive listening devices will be provided. Additional accommodations are available upon request; please email nmahprograms@si.edu. Two weeks’ notice is preferred.
Seating is limited and reservations are recommended. Seating will be opened first to Eventbrite-registered attendees and then to walk-in visitors. When we reach maximum capacity, the event will be closed to the public.
Sonoma County JACL Day of Remembrance - Screening of "League of Dreams"
On Thursday, February 19, 2026, the Sonoma County JACL chapter will gather for a Day of Remembrance with a special community screening of “League of Dreams,” the powerful documentary by filmmaker Lane Nishikawa—who will be with us in person to talk about the film and answer audience questions.
Day of Remembrance is a time to reflect on the wartime incarceration of Japanese Americans, honor those who endured it, and recommit ourselves to protecting civil liberties for all. This year’s program connects that history to the story of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) itself—an organization founded in 1929 that has spent generations challenging injustice and expanding the promise of democracy.
As Nishikawa describes the project, “The League of Dreams” chronicles the JACL’s long fight for civil rights—addressing early barriers to immigration and naturalization, leading the decade-long campaign for redress and reparations that culminated in the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, and continuing to stand with communities facing discrimination today. The documentary places JACL’s work in a broader American civil-rights context, reminding us that progress is rarely automatic—and never guaranteed.
Many JACL members first previewed “League of Dreams” at the 2024 JACL National Convention in Philadelphia, where Nishikawa shared his years-long effort to interview more than a hundred people across the country and weave those voices together with archival footage, photographs, and historical headlines. Now, we’re honored to host him locally for an evening of film, reflection, and dialogue—an opportunity to learn, ask questions, and carry forward the lessons of our community’s past into the work of the present.
The event is being co-sponsored by the Asian American Pacific Island Coalition of the North Bay (AAPIC). Asian Student organizations at Sonoma State University and Santa Rosa Junior College are being informed and their members are encouraged to attend.
Feb 19-22: JACL Arizona Chapter - Gila River Connections: A Celebration of Shared History
A landmark community gathering, “Gila River Connections: A Celebration of Shared History,” will take place in Chandler, Arizona, from February 19-22, 2026. This vital event will bring together Japanese American WWII camp survivors, their descendants, members of the Gila River Indian Community (GRIC), students, and allies to honor the intertwined histories of the two communities.
The four-day gathering aims to foster healing and reflect on the shared experiences of displacement, resettlement, forced assimilation, and ultimate resilience. “This event will simultaneously honor the history of Japanese American incarcerees and the sovereignty of GRIC lands and provide opportunities for community-building and shared healing,” the organizing committee stated.
This promises to be a significant assembly of Japanese Americans at Gila River, building upon the JACL National Convention at Wild Horse Pass in 2006, and the visit of the Japanese American National Museum (JANM) Ireicho (book of names) national tour in 2025.
Idaho Falls - "Education and Freedom at Minidoka: The Diary of Superintendent Arthur Kleinkopf"
Learn about Friends of Minidoka’s new publication, Education and Freedom at Minidoka: The Diary of Superintendent Arthur Kleinkopf. Published for the first time in its entirety, Education and Freedom at Minidoka presents a rare firsthand account of life at the Minidoka War Relocation Center. Writing as the Supervisor of Student Teachers and Superintendent of Education, Kleinkopf documents the daily realities, contradictions, and moral tensions of working inside a World War II concentration camp.
Education and Freedom at Minidoka is part of FoM’s project Minidoka Memories: Stories that Connect and Heal which will collect oral histories from the Idaho community with ties to the historic Minidoka War Relocation Center and the unjust incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII.
A pre-event reception will begin at 5 pm.
Copies of Education and Freedom at Minidoka will be available for purchase.
This project is supported by Idaho Humanities Council, Jones Family Fund of the National Philanthropic Trust, Duane Minoru Yamamoto Memorial Fund with Friends of Minidoka, and Minidoka National Historic Site. In partnership with Twin Falls Public Library and Boise State University Albertsons Library Special Archives.
Marysville Day of Remembrance PRELUDE - Meet the Author
Meet the Author: Jan Morrill — February 20
As a prelude to the main program, the public is invited to meet Jan Morrill award-winning author of The Red Kimono and Masako’s Red Kimono on Friday, February 20, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Sutter County Library, 750 Forbes Avenue, Yuba City. Morrill will discuss her novels, which explore themes of identity, resilience, and the Japanese American wartime experience.
Puyallup Day of Remembrance 2026
The Puyallup Valley JACL’s Day of Remembrance event is Saturday, Feb 21st at the Expo Hall on the Washington State Fairgrounds from 10am – 12pm with doors opening at 9:45am.
The Day of Remembrance is a way to acknowledge and honor the over 125,000 people of Japanese descent who were incarcerated during World War II.
Event Details
Time - Doors open at 9:45am, Program Starts at 10:00am and ends around 12:00pm.
Parking – Free parking is available in the Washington State Fair’s Gold Parking Lot, 350 7th Ave SE, Puyallup
Free admission is at the Gold Gate, corner of S. Meridian & 9th Ave SW. Volunteers will guide you from the Gold parking lot through the Gold Gate entrance into the Expo Hall.
Program
This year’s program will include five sessions, featuring a fireside chat with survivors Hana Konishi and Paul Tomita; a reading by author Tamiko Nimura from her new book, A Place for What We Lose: A Daughter’s Return To Tule Lake; a display of paintings by artist Chris Hopkins that explore the incarceration experience; and updates from Tsuru for Solidarity by Stan Shikuma and his team on actions needed to support immigrant and refugee communities currently being targeted; guests will also be able to visit the Remembrance Gallery, led by Gallery docents.
New England JACL Day of Remembrance - Screening of "Third Act"
Join the New England Japanese American Citizens League for our annual Day of Remembrance to commemorate the signing of Executive Order 9066 that led to the unjust incarceration over 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II. We are co-hosting a film screen of "Third Act" (directed by Tadashi Nakamura) in partnership with Arts Emerson and the Boston Asian American Film Festival.
2026 Films of Remembrance - SF
WELCOME TO THE 15TH ANNUAL FILMS OF REMEMBRANCE
Films of Remembrance, presented by the Nichi Bei Foundation, is the premier showcase of films commemorating the forced incarceration of Japanese Americans in American concentration camps during World War II.
The San Francisco screening of the 2026 Films of Remembrance will be held on Saturday, February 21, at the AMC Kabuki 8 in San Francisco’s Japantown. Tickets for the in-person programs can be purchased below. All-Day Passes, which provide a deep discount, are also available.
For more information about the films and programs, including descriptions and trailers, go to the Screening Schedule page and review the detailed schedule and film guide.
Wing Luke Museum - Japanese American Remembrance Trail Tour
Saturdays, February - March
11:30 AM - 1 PM
Begins at Wing Luke Museum
Approximately 1 mile of walking distance
In the early 1900s, Seattle’s Japantown — Nihonmachi — stretched from 4th Avenue South to 23rd Avenue South, a bustling enclave of family homes and independently owned shops, grocery stores, and entertainment venues. In the aftermath of Pearl Harbor came Executive Order 9066 in 1942, which forced all persons of Japanese ancestry into concentration camps – Nihonmachi never fully recovered. This walking tour takes visitors through the past and present Japantown/Nihonmachi.
Marysville Day of Remembrance
The Sutter County Museum, in conjunction with Marysville Chapter JACL, will host a special Day of Remembrance program on Saturday, February 21, 2026, offering the public a rare opportunity to hear firsthand stories and expert insights about one of the most complex chapters of Japanese American history. Titled “Tule Lake: An Inside Look,” the event will run from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Etti Hall, located at 1333 Butte House Road, Yuba City.
The program brings together a distinguished panel of speakers whose work and lived experiences illuminate the legacy of the Tule Lake Segregation Center—one of the most controversial sites within the World War II incarceration system.
Featured speakers include:
Jim Tanimoto, Last survivor of the Block 42 Resisters.
Wayne Collins, representing the legacy of his father civil rights attorney Wayne M. Collins, known for defending the rights of Japanese Americans labeled “disloyal.”
Jan Morrill, award-winning author of The Red Kimono will talk of her mother’s experience at Tule Lake.
Helen Hannan Parra, author of Two Days and One Suitcase will read excerpts of a first-hand account, written March 20, 1946, giving us a never before made public look, at the last day of Tule Lake.
Judge Johnny Cepeda Gogo and his 48-Star Flag Project.
Yukio Kawaratani, via video recorded especially for this DOR, will tell how his father and two brothers were sent to DOJ detention centers in North Dakota and Texas while he was left with his mother and three sisters in Tule Lake and three of his brothers were serving in the Army.
The program will be hosted by David Kiyoshi Tom, creator of Kintsukuroi and Closed Mondays, whose work explores memory, identity, and the Japanese American experience.
2026 Los Angeles Day of Remembrance
The annual Los Angeles Day of Remembrance commemorates the signing of Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Executive Order 9066 authorized the US military to remove persons of Japanese ancestry from the West Coast and set into motion their incarceration in concentration camps during World War II.
This year’s theme, “The Power of Action: Silence Today, Injustice Tomorrow,” highlights the current climate where our history, not only as Japanese Americans but as all communities of color, are under threat of erasure or censorship. The program will focus on taking collective action today to secure a better future for future generations and highlight the work that our community is doing and the work many of our partners are doing to support each other.
The 2026 Los Angeles Day of Remembrance is organized by: Go For Broke National Education Center, Japanese American Citizens League - Pacific Southwest District, Japanese American National Museum, Little Tokyo Service Center, Manzanar Committee, Nikkei for Civil Rights & Redress, Nikkei Progressives, OCA - Greater Los Angeles
2026 Films of Remembrance - San Jose
WELCOME TO THE 15TH ANNUAL FILMS OF REMEMBRANCE
Films of Remembrance, presented by the Nichi Bei Foundation, is the premier showcase of films commemorating the forced incarceration of Japanese Americans in American concentration camps during World War II.
The San Jose screening of the 2026 Films of Remembrance will be held on Sunday, February 22 at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin in San Jose’s Japantown. All-Day Passes, which provide discounted access to all the programs per venue, are also available.
For more information about the films and programs, including descriptions and trailers, go to the Screening Schedule page and review the detailed schedule and film guide.
Chicago Day of Remembrance
Full Spectrum Features’ latest short docudrama, Enough, will be featured at Chicago’s Day of Remembrance 2026, an annual gathering that marks the signing of Executive Order 9066 and honors the many generations shaped by Japanese American incarceration. Rooted in the decades-long history of the Japanese American Redress Movement—from the lead-up to the 1981 Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians (CWRIC) hearings through the passage of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988—the film turns to community memory and testimony to ask what it takes to confront harm honestly and pursue repair over time.
Following the screening, a panel of community members and practitioners will reflect on how the legacies of Redress speak to present-day struggles around state violence, surveillance, and displacement. Panelists include Rebecca Ozaki (Yonsei, granddaughter of a CWRIC testifier), Mary Samson (Sansei, Redress organizer), Dr. Britt Dantley (family therapist and clinician), Brian Tee (director and actor), and Scott Sakiyama (attorney and anti-ICE advocate). Together, they will consider how practices of storytelling, accountability, and care can interrupt repeating patterns of removal and state violence—both within families and across communities.
The program invites attendees to think with the panel about what “enough” looks like when it comes to justice: How do we honor the labor of those who fought for Redress while recognizing what remains unfinished? How can we speak with urgency about current harms without losing sight of the slow work of healing across generations? A guided discussion will offer space for reflection, questions, and shared commitments to ongoing community care.
This program is free and open to the public. Due to limited seating, advanced registration is highly encouraged.
This event is sponsored by Full Spectrum Features, Chicago Japanese American Council, Japanese American Citizens League – Chicago Chapter, Chicago Japanese American Historical Society, Japanese Mutual Aid Society of Chicago, and Japanese American Service Committee.
Day of Remembrance: Looking Like the Enemy
Join Friends of Mukai Farm & Garden and the Vashon Library for a community Day of Remembrance inspired by former Vashon resident Mary Matsuda Gruenewald’s powerful memoir Looking Like the Enemy, reflecting on the Japanese American incarceration during World War II and its relevance today. The program will include an intergenerational book discussion and space for reflection for teens and adults. Family story time for young children will start at 1pm.
Event schedule:
1pm – Storytime for children and families
2pm – Day of Remembrance reflection facilitated by Jade Agua, Friends of Mukai Executive Director
3pm – Intergenerational Book Discussion recommended for grades 6-12 and adults.
Some copies of Looking Like the Enemy and Looking Like the Enemy: Young Readers Edition (middle school and older) are available at the Vashon Library and Mukai Farm & Garden.
This program is a partnership between the Friends of Mukai Farm & Garden and the Vashon Library.
Registration not required.
Day of Remembrance Rally to Resist ICE in Portland, Oregon
Please join Oregon Tsuru for Solidarity and the Portland Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) on Sunday, February 22, 2026 for a Day of Remembrance Rally to Resist ICE. The Day of Remembrance marks President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s signing of Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942 which authorized the U.S. military to forcibly remove and incarcerate 125,000+ immigrants and U.S. citizens of Japanese descent during World War II.
As Japanese Americans, we understand the immediate and long lasting impacts of family separation and mass incarceration inflicted by the U.S. government. Right now, as ICE terrorizes our immigrant neighbors, it is more important than ever that we stand up and speak out to call for the end of ICE detention and deportations. We aim to be the allies that we did not have in 1942, and we will not stand idly by while immigrants are once again targeted.
We will gather at Elizabeth Caruthers Park at 2:00pm for a rally featuring Portland Taiko, a candlelight ceremony, and speakers including Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition, Together Lab, and survivors and descendants of WWII incarceration. We will then walk four blocks to the Portland ICE facility (4310 S Macadam Ave), where we will hold a peaceful vigil.
Salt Lake JACL Origami Workshop
Salt Lake JACL presents an Advanced Origami Workshop with artist Judy Iwamoto. Part of the 2026 Traditional Japanese Arts & Culture Workshops, sponsored by the Salt Lake City Arts Council.
Space is limited, so you must RSVP
Salt Lake JACL members get priority registration and free entry
Twin Falls - "Education and Freedom at Minidoka: The Diary of Superintendent Arthur Kleinkopf"
Learn about Friends of Minidoka’s new publication, Education and Freedom at Minidoka: The Diary of Superintendent Arthur Kleinkopf. Published for the first time in its entirety, Education and Freedom at Minidoka presents a rare firsthand account of life at the Minidoka War Relocation Center. Writing as the Supervisor of Student Teachers and Superintendent of Education, Kleinkopf documents the daily realities, contradictions, and moral tensions of working inside a World War II concentration camp.
Education and Freedom at Minidoka is part of FoM’s project Minidoka Memories: Stories that Connect and Heal which will collect oral histories from the Idaho community with ties to the historic Minidoka War Relocation Center and the unjust incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII.
A pre-event reception will begin at 5 pm.
Copies of Education and Freedom at Minidoka will be available for purchase.
This project is supported by Idaho Humanities Council, Jones Family Fund of the National Philanthropic Trust, Duane Minoru Yamamoto Memorial Fund with Friends of Minidoka, and Minidoka National Historic Site. In partnership with Twin Falls Public Library and Boise State University Albertsons Library Special Archives.
Ketchum - "Education and Freedom at Minidoka: The Diary of Superintendent Arthur Kleinkopf"
Learn about Friends of Minidoka’s new publication, Education and Freedom at Minidoka: The Diary of Superintendent Arthur Kleinkopf. Published for the first time in its entirety, Education and Freedom at Minidoka presents a rare firsthand account of life at the Minidoka War Relocation Center. Writing as the Supervisor of Student Teachers and Superintendent of Education, Kleinkopf documents the daily realities, contradictions, and moral tensions of working inside a World War II concentration camp.
Education and Freedom at Minidoka is part of FoM’s project Minidoka Memories: Stories that Connect and Heal which will collect oral histories from the Idaho community with ties to the historic Minidoka War Relocation Center and the unjust incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII.
A pre-event reception will begin at 5 pm.
Copies of Education and Freedom at Minidoka will be available for purchase.
This project is supported by Idaho Humanities Council, Jones Family Fund of the National Philanthropic Trust, Duane Minoru Yamamoto Memorial Fund with Friends of Minidoka, and Minidoka National Historic Site. In partnership with Twin Falls Public Library and Boise State University Albertsons Library Special Archives.
2026 Utah Day of Remembrance
The Utah Museum of Fine Arts in honored to collaborate with the Japanese American Citizens League’s Mt. Olympus Chapter, and Plan-B Theatre, to commemorate Day of Remembrance, which recognizes the signing of Executive Order 9066 by President Franklin D Roosevelt on February 19, 1942. This order led to the unjust mass incarceration of over 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II. The day serves as a remembrance of this historical injustice and acts as a call to action to protect civil liberties today.
Gather in the Dumke Auditorium at the UMFA for a reading of Plan-B Theatre’s KILO-WAT by Aaron Asano Swenson, (featuring Bryan Kido from the 2025 production), followed by a post-performance discussion featuring Hank Misaka & Nancy Umemura, the children of the central figure in KILO-WAT, Wat Misaka. Following the event, attendees are encouraged to explore the UMFA galleries and enjoy the art on view. This event is free, and all are welcome to attend.
Wing Luke Museum - Japanese American Remembrance Trail
Saturdays, February - March
11:30 AM - 1 PM
Begins at Wing Luke Museum
Approximately 1 mile of walking distance
In the early 1900s, Seattle’s Japantown — Nihonmachi — stretched from 4th Avenue South to 23rd Avenue South, a bustling enclave of family homes and independently owned shops, grocery stores, and entertainment venues. In the aftermath of Pearl Harbor came Executive Order 9066 in 1942, which forced all persons of Japanese ancestry into concentration camps – Nihonmachi never fully recovered. This walking tour takes visitors through the past and present Japantown/Nihonmachi.
In-person KAKEHASHI alumni event Los Angeles
Call for Participants In-person KAKEHASHI alumni event
We are pleased to announce our in-person event in Los Angeles! Join us on Saturday, February 28th to interact with other alumni members for networking. You will be invited to Japan House Los Angeles.
Registration is required and the spots are limited. Every alumnus/alumna is welcome!
* Please note that travel expenses to the venue will not be covered by us.
In-person KAKEHASHI alumni event
Time | Saturday, February 28th. 2pm-4pm (Doors open approximately 15-30 minutes prior)
Venue | Japan House Los Angeles, USA (Hollywood & Highland 6801 Hollywood Boulevard, 2F and 5F Los Angeles, CA)
Parking | Parking is NOT available on the premises. We recommend you use public transportation or rideshare.
Fee | Free
Language | English
Program | Icebreaker Session, Presentations from alumni representatives, and Networking (TBD)
*Please make sure that you can receive emails from JICE (@jice.org)
**Please register by Sunday, February 15th. Registration is on a first come, first served basis.
2026 JACL National Scholarships - Freshman Applications DUE
Freshman applications must be submitted directly by the applicant to National JACL through the online form no later than Monday, March 2, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Hawaiian Standard Time (HST).
Applications for the non-freshman scholarship categories (undergraduate, graduate, law, creative/performing arts, and financial aid) are also to be sent directly by the applicant to National JACL through the online form no later than Friday, April 3, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Hawaiian Standard Time (HST).
All those applying to the National JACL Scholarship Program must be a youth/student or individual member of the JACL; a couple/family membership held by a parent does NOT meet this requirement. Applicants must be enrolled in school in Fall 2025 to be eligible for a scholarship. If a student has received two National scholarship awards previously, they are no longer eligible to apply, as the limit is two national awards per person.
Boise - "Education and Freedom at Minidoka: The Diary of Superintendent Arthur Kleinkopf"
Learn about Friends of Minidoka’s new publication, Education and Freedom at Minidoka: The Diary of Superintendent Arthur Kleinkopf. Published for the first time in its entirety, Education and Freedom at Minidoka presents a rare firsthand account of life at the Minidoka War Relocation Center. Writing as the Supervisor of Student Teachers and Superintendent of Education, Kleinkopf documents the daily realities, contradictions, and moral tensions of working inside a World War II concentration camp.
Education and Freedom at Minidoka is part of FoM’s project Minidoka Memories: Stories that Connect and Heal which will collect oral histories from the Idaho community with ties to the historic Minidoka War Relocation Center and the unjust incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII.
A pre-event reception will begin at 5 pm.
Copies of Education and Freedom at Minidoka will be available for purchase.
This project is supported by Idaho Humanities Council, Jones Family Fund of the National Philanthropic Trust, Duane Minoru Yamamoto Memorial Fund with Friends of Minidoka, and Minidoka National Historic Site. In partnership with Twin Falls Public Library and Boise State University Albertsons Library Special Archives.
Wing Luke Museum - Japanese American Remembrance Trail
Saturdays, February - March
11:30 AM - 1 PM
Begins at Wing Luke Museum
Approximately 1 mile of walking distance
In the early 1900s, Seattle’s Japantown — Nihonmachi — stretched from 4th Avenue South to 23rd Avenue South, a bustling enclave of family homes and independently owned shops, grocery stores, and entertainment venues. In the aftermath of Pearl Harbor came Executive Order 9066 in 1942, which forced all persons of Japanese ancestry into concentration camps – Nihonmachi never fully recovered. This walking tour takes visitors through the past and present Japantown/Nihonmachi.
Wing Luke Museum - Japanese American Remembrance Trail
Saturdays, February - March
11:30 AM - 1 PM
Begins at Wing Luke Museum
Approximately 1 mile of walking distance
In the early 1900s, Seattle’s Japantown — Nihonmachi — stretched from 4th Avenue South to 23rd Avenue South, a bustling enclave of family homes and independently owned shops, grocery stores, and entertainment venues. In the aftermath of Pearl Harbor came Executive Order 9066 in 1942, which forced all persons of Japanese ancestry into concentration camps – Nihonmachi never fully recovered. This walking tour takes visitors through the past and present Japantown/Nihonmachi.
Intergenerational Conversations: Ripples of the Past
RSVP using this link by 11:59pm March 3rd: https://bit.ly/IntergenConvosRSVP
Intergenerational Conversations: Ripples of the Past is a JACL Chicago and Nikkei Uprising program that brings Chicago-area Nikkei (people of Japanese ancestry) together to connect and process the trauma of WWII forced displacement and incarceration through personal story sharing. It was created to address the community’s need for spaces to reflect on, and heal from, the generational impact of mass incarceration. We are also looking for facilitators to help us lead small groups. Facilitators are required to attend one training and will receive a small stipend. If you are interested in facilitating, please fill out this form: https://bit.ly/IntergenConvoFacilitate
28th Annual Freedom Walk
28th Annual Freedom Walk
Saturday, March 28, 2026
Check-in: 9:00 AM | Opening Ceremony: 10:00 AM
National Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism During World War II, Washington, DC
Keynote Speaker: Tak Furumoto, Vietnam Veteran
SPONSORS: National Japanese American Memorial Foundation, Japanese American Veterans Association, DC Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League & Ekoji Buddhist Temple
2026 Films of Remembrance - Los Angeles
WELCOME TO THE 15TH ANNUAL FILMS OF REMEMBRANCE
Films of Remembrance, presented by the Nichi Bei Foundation, is the premier showcase of films commemorating the forced incarceration of Japanese Americans in American concentration camps during World War II.
The Los Angeles screening of the 2026 Films of Remembrance will be held on Saturday, March 28 at the Tateuchi Democracy Forum (Japanese American National Museum) in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo. All-Day Passes, which provide discounted access to all the programs per venue, are also available.
For more information about the films and programs, including descriptions and trailers, go to the Screening Schedule page and review the detailed schedule and film guide.
2026 Films of Remembrance - Gardena
WELCOME TO THE 15TH ANNUAL FILMS OF REMEMBRANCE
Films of Remembrance, presented by the Nichi Bei Foundation, is the premier showcase of films commemorating the forced incarceration of Japanese Americans in American concentration camps during World War II.
The Gardena screening of the 2026 Films of Remembrance will be held on Sunday, March 29 at the Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute in Gardena, Calif. All-Day Passes, which provide discounted access to all the programs per venue, are also available.
For more information about the films and programs, including descriptions and trailers, go to the Screening Schedule page and review the detailed schedule and film guide.
2026 JACL National Scholarships - General & Art Applications DUE
Freshman applications must be submitted directly by the applicant to National JACL through the online form no later than Monday, March 2, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Hawaiian Standard Time (HST).
Applications for the non-freshman scholarship categories (undergraduate, graduate, law, creative/performing arts, and financial aid) are also to be sent directly by the applicant to National JACL through the online form no later than Friday, April 3, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Hawaiian Standard Time (HST).
All those applying to the National JACL Scholarship Program must be a youth/student or individual member of the JACL; a couple/family membership held by a parent does NOT meet this requirement. Applicants must be enrolled in school in Fall 2025 to be eligible for a scholarship. If a student has received two National scholarship awards previously, they are no longer eligible to apply, as the limit is two national awards per person.
Wing Luke Museum - Japanese American Remembrance Trail
Saturdays, February - March
11:30 AM - 1 PM
Begins at Wing Luke Museum
Approximately 1 mile of walking distance
In the early 1900s, Seattle’s Japantown — Nihonmachi — stretched from 4th Avenue South to 23rd Avenue South, a bustling enclave of family homes and independently owned shops, grocery stores, and entertainment venues. In the aftermath of Pearl Harbor came Executive Order 9066 in 1942, which forced all persons of Japanese ancestry into concentration camps – Nihonmachi never fully recovered. This walking tour takes visitors through the past and present Japantown/Nihonmachi.
Wing Luke Museum - Japanese American Remembrance Trail
Saturdays, February - March
11:30 AM - 1 PM
Begins at Wing Luke Museum
Approximately 1 mile of walking distance
In the early 1900s, Seattle’s Japantown — Nihonmachi — stretched from 4th Avenue South to 23rd Avenue South, a bustling enclave of family homes and independently owned shops, grocery stores, and entertainment venues. In the aftermath of Pearl Harbor came Executive Order 9066 in 1942, which forced all persons of Japanese ancestry into concentration camps – Nihonmachi never fully recovered. This walking tour takes visitors through the past and present Japantown/Nihonmachi.
Intermountain Youth District Bowling Event
This is the first event being hosted by our newly-formed Intermountain District Council Youth Board, and we’re so excited to meet some of you! Come meet others in the community, knock down some pins, and learn how to get involved!
Come to…
* Meet JACL youth
* Learn about membership
* Build community 🤝
* Have fun!
This event will be free for those who sign up. Though, please note that this event is catered those who are interested in joining and/or being more involved in JACL!
* RSVP by Sunday, January 29th if possible!
* If after January 29th, reach out to us and we can see if we have space!
2026 SELANOCO - OC JACL Installation
Please join us as we celebrate 2026 and the installation of our SELANOCO-OC JACL officers! We are excited to announce that our guest speaker will be Al Muratsuchi, Assemblymember (District 66). He will be speaking with us about his life and career.
Date: Saturday, January 31, 2016
Check-in Time: 9:30 am (Program starts at 10:00 am)
Location: Norma Hertzog Community Center - Costa Mesa Room (1845 Park Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92627)
Parking: Free onsite
Cost: $35 per person
If you are not able to attend, but would like to sponsor a UCI Tomo No Kai or Chapman NSU student, please consider donating $35 per student!
Restoring America’s Promise: The Fight For Justice
Go For Broke National Education Center and the Boise Valley JACL invite you and a guest to a special presentation of
Restoring America’s Promise: The Fight For Justice
Featuring Dr. Mitchell T. Maki, President & CEO of Go For Broke National Education Center, and Lead Author of Achieving the Impossible Dream: How Japanese Americans Obtained Redress
Sunday, January 25, 2026
1:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.
Wassmuth Center for Human Rights
777 S. 8th Street, Boise, ID 83702
Event is FREE; registration is required by Friday, January 16.
To register, go to: https://bit.ly/GoForBroke_January25_rsvp.
For more information, email Gina Nieto at gina@goforbroke.org. Due to limited adjacent availability, please allow additional time to park.
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Join us for a truly impactful and interactive presentation that delves into the poignant history of the Japanese American WWII experience. Nationally recognized redress movement scholar, Dr. Mitch Maki, will guide you through this critical chapter in American history, exploring the challenges of incarceration and military service, and culminating with the passage of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988.
Through the blending of historical facts with compelling community anecdotes and audience perspectives, Dr. Maki fosters a dynamic dialogue that connects this history to today's crucial issues of social justice and the enduring strength of democracy.
This is more than a presentation; it is a moving and inspirational opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the unwavering Go For Broke spirit of the Japanese American soldiers and the ongoing relevance of their fight for the freedoms and liberties we all cherish. This is a chance to explore how their legacy impacts us and future generations.
JACL NCWNP Youth Board Mochitsuki Demo!
Come celebrate Oshogatsu by making mochi with the JACL NCWNP Youth Board! Learn how to pound and shape fresh mochi, then enjoy it with all the classic fixings. There is a $5 per person fee (children 12 and under are free) to help cover materials and support future events, payable via Venmo, Zelle (5593026757), or at the door.
Jan 23: Echoes of History: Inspiring Civic Action and Building Democracy
Join the Democracy Center at JANM and meet the thinkers, artists, organizers, and civic leaders confronting authoritarianism today. This day-long symposium challenges us to imagine how we can build a democracy that endures by recognizing the threats before us, learning from communities resisting them, and envisioning new civic spaces and shared legacies for the future. The symposium also includes tours of the timely exhibition Monuments at MOCA and a mobile “banned bookmobile” presented by Bloom Wild Bookshop.
Image: Glenn Kaino, In the Light of a Shadow (detail), 2021. Image courtesy of the artist.
Jan 17: Undercurrents: Tracing Shared Histories from Japan to California
Tracing the Kuroshio ocean current, which connects the coastlines of Japan and California, reveals an interconnected history of migration, industry, art and culture. A number of early migrants specifically from Wakayama and Chiba, many of whom came from a fishing background, made Monterey along California’s Central Coast their adopted home as a result of being able to continue with this trade. Despite being thousands of miles apart, connections abound. Join researchers, curators, filmmakers, and descendants as they trace the interesting threads that connect these places.
This program is presented in partnership with JANM’s Sister Museum, the Museum of Modern Art Wakayama, and is organized by the Executive Committee for International Exchange Programs on Migration Studies in Wakayama, which is administered by The Museum of Modern Art, Wakayama. It is supported by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, in the fiscal year 2025.
2026 JACL National Convention Workshop Proposals DUE
The 2026 JACL National Convention will be held in Las Vegas, NV, at the Paris Las Vegas from Wednesday, July 29 to Sunday, August 2, 2026. This year's convention theme is Reigniting Our Purpose and Mission.
This year, JACL is pleased to offer the opportunity for those interested to submit a session proposal. Please note that most, if not all, sessions will take place on Friday, July 31. Each session will last 75 minutes, and proposals that are accepted will be entitled to the following compensation if accepted:
Each session will receive a stipend (amount to be confirmed) along with one night's hotel stay for each presenter.
All session presenters will receive a Day Pass for the day during which their session takes place; this will grant access to plenaries, workshops, and any other content-based programming. The Day Pass will also include a complimentary breakfast.
Any presenters who would like to attend the Awards Luncheon and Sayonara Gala may purchase tickets at the registration link (to be made available in February 2026).
Offices Closed
JACL wishes you a happy holiday season. Our offices will be closed from December 25, 2025 through January 1, 2025. We look forward to reconnecting in the new year!
December NMC Meeting
JACL’s monthly National Membership Committee meeting for all chapter boards and their membership committees.
Looking to get involved with your chapter’s membership committee? Reach out to your chapter or mbr@jacl.org.
Thanksgiving
Have a wonderful holiday! JACL offices will be closed November 27 & 28 in observance of Thanksgiving.
(Tentative) November NMC Meeting
JACL’s monthly National Membership Committee meeting for all chapter boards and their membership committees.
Looking to get involved with your chapter’s membership committee? Reach out to your chapter or mbr@jacl.org.
JACL National New Member Orientation
Did you join JACL in the past year? Are you looking to make the most of your JACL membership?
Join us for a first look at JACL’s education videos, hear from JACL leadership, meet other new members, and find out all JACL has to offer. We will have prizes!
Sign up for this free member event HERE. Non-members are welcome to join with a $5 donation.
Advocacy Updates on Sacred Sites: A View from DC
We’re excited to share an upcoming webinar, “Advocacy Updates on Sacred Sites: A View from DC,” taking place on Monday, November 3rd at 5pm PT / 8pm ET. This conversation will feature Dan Sakura, conservation advocate; Katie Masano Hill from the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL); and Huy Pham from Asian and Pacific Islanders in Historic Preservation (APIAHiP). Together, they will discuss key federal updates and community advocacy efforts related to the preservation of Japanese American incarceration sites and other sacred places. Topics will include FY25 JACS grant funding, the FY26 appropriations process, the Lava Ridge–SWIP-N transmission line and its impact on Minidoka, ongoing preservation work by APIAHiP as we approach America 250, and updates on Japanese American Network bill implementation.
Register for the Webinar Here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_SWfnBgFrQg6_tLbqj2xInQ#/
October National Membership Committee Meeting
JACL’s monthly National Membership Committee meeting for all chapter boards and their membership committees.
Looking to get involved with your chapter’s membership committee? Reach out to your chapter or mbr@jacl.org.