Visiting Le Pera Elementary School

.....April 6, 2018 in Poston, Arizona.....

 The former site of Poston camp 2 during WW II. 
Photo credit: Kimberly Mayo

Old school gym at Poston camp 2.  
Photo credit: Kimberly Mayo

Arrival at Le Pera Elementary School. 
Photo credit: Dianne Kiyomoto

Meeting in the Le Pera Elementary School Office with Principal Brian Wedemeyer before the early morning school assembly. Photo credit: Kimberly Mayo

I learned of the very first visit by the former Poston detainees, involving the local Baptist Church. The event has been preserved on video. Photo credit: Kimberly Mayo

Excellent introduction by the school principal, Brian Wedemeyer.  He spoke to his students about what happened during WW II when people of Japanese ancestry from the west coast states were incarcerated at Poston, Arizona. Photo credit: Kimberly Mayo

Grades K-8 in attendance. Everyone wanted to attend!

Photo credit: Dianne Kiyomoto

 Marion (Nakamura) Masada attended the Poston camp 2 elementary school when she was 9 years old. She became a Girl Scout and loved to read books.

Photo credit: Dianne Kiyomoto

  Bob Shintaku, born in Poston, Arizona, spoke of his painful experience being introduced to his first school class in Texas after leaving the camp. He spoke of being treated as a living example of the poster below. Photo credit: Dianne Kiyomoto

 Listening to a very emotional story. 

Photo credit: Kimberly Mayo

Reverend Saburo Masada
Photo credit: Kimberly Mayo

  Dianne Kiyomoto helps to answer the children's questions. 

Photo credit: Kimberly Mayo

Waving back to the children as they leave the assembly.

Photo credit: Kimberly Mayo

All smiles now. Assembly done.

Photo credit: Kimberly Mayo

Tour of the school campus. Outdoor hand-washing station.

Photo credit: Kimberly Mayo

Leaving the school and the children behind.

Photo credit: Kimberly Mayo

Next up: The Poston Pilgrimage begins tomorrow!
Kimberly's selfie

......AFTER THE 2018 POSTON PILGRIMAGE ON APRIL 7, 2018......

 The Poston Community Alliance purchased some children's books for the La Pera Elementary School Library with donations for the Poston maps from Pilgrimage attendees. Photo credit: Kimberly Mayo

Marlene Shigekawa donated a copy of her book, "Welcome Home Swallows" a touching story of a Japanese-American family torn apart by WW II. 

Photo credit: Kimberly Mayo

Click here to see the Poston NISEI VETERANS blog

Imperial Valley Bus Tour: February 10-11, 2018

Here's a message from our friends from Poston camp 1, the Imperial Valley Reunion Committee. 

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Imperial Valley Bus Tour February 10-11, 2018

A Journey to Our Roots!

This tour is a visit to our roots & to share the legacy the Issei & Nisei have given our families! The excursion bus route: Along the Salton Sea, to Westmorland, Brawley, Imperial, El Centro, Calexico, Holtville (Meloland), Calipatria and Niland.  

Visit: Japanese American Gallery in the Pioneer Museum in El Centro with Tim Asamen as our tour guide.

Your reservation includes:

Round trip bus ride on Gold Coast Tours/bus driver tip

Saturday buffet lunch-Golden Corral in El Centro

Museum admission & donation to the JA Gallery

1 night stay-Best Western Hotel in El Centro and Sunday breakfast.  

Saturday night dinner-your choice

Sunday lunch-your choice at a stop at Morongo Casino

Rest stop in Mecca

Stop at the Westmorland Date Shop

Departure: 8:00 am 

Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple in Little Tokyo

815 E. 1^st Street

Los Angeles, CA 90012.  

Bus pick up: Vignes St. side of the Temple

Overnight parking: Available for $5/day; or $10 cash for the trip.  

Return: 4:00 pm on Sunday. 

**For Tour questions: email: imperialvalleyreunion@gmail.com

Colleen Hayashi – Home: 714-779-1179/Cell: 714-393-3219

Roy Imazu – Cell:  818-522-4891/Home: 818-767-1508

WHERE IS POSTON?

Have received many email messages from folks asking about how to get to Poston and the location of our historical site.

For a general map, click on the 'MAPS" tab on the homepage. Also included are some photos of the street signs.

YES, we are still taking orders for the Poston Brick Campaign until June 30, 2016!!!!

Click on the "Brick Campaign" (located on the left side bar) to visit the blogsite for more information and order forms.

This past Memorial Day weekend

Domo arigato gozaimasu (THANK YOU) to these "angels" who cleaned-up the Poston Memorial Monument and kiosk site.... 

Here's what they found......

And some beautiful surprises like this.....

And unfortunately, an ugly surprise like this......

Thank you for leaving a "special tribute" to our fallen heroes who never made it back home.....

Domo arigato gozaimasu!

Photo credit: Mary Hernandez

Seeking descendants of Shigemi & Chizuko Uyeda...

Updated: 4/21/15 Family relative has been found!

Received this message on Facebook  from our friends 

at the Minidoka Pilgrimage Planning Committee:

 

Apr 19th, 3:16pm

     Was wondering if anyone is familiar with this Poston family.... Shigemi and Chizuko Uyeda [Poston block 19]... They were from Lancaster CA... Son Theodore passed in 1991 in San Diego. Has two daughters names unknown right now... 

     The Rago Auction protest has brought a cool item of of hiding.... A photography trophy from 1925 to who we believe to be Shigemi. It was awarded from Iwata business... I know possessions from prewar times are rare and Shigemi would go on to being a well known early CA Nikkei photographer.... The person who has it would like it returned to the family. Thanks if you can help. Any contact help would be appreciated.

 To read more about the Rago Aution protest:
 Rafu Shimpo Newspaper report
 L A Times report

Come and Meet Us!

  

    Visit with us at the 2014 National  J.A.C.L. Convention

 The convention runs July 9-12, 2014

 Doubletree Hotel

2050 Gateway Place

San Jose, CA 95110  

(Located less than 1/2 mile from the Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport)

**See us at the EXHIBITION AREA:

Friday, July 11, 2014 : 8:00 AM-5:00 PM

Saturday July 12, 2014 : 8:00 AM-12 Noon

Passages From Poston

EXHIBIT: "Passages from Poston: Contemporary photographs of a former Japanese American Confinement site."  Photographs by Ira Nowinski.

SATURDAY, MAY 31, 2014 RECEPTION

Screening of the documentary film, Passing Poston

Panel discussion with question/answer session with:

- Ira Nowinski (photographer)

- Joe Fox (Director/Producer of Passing Poston)

- Mas Hashimoto (retired  high school educator and lived at Poston 220-12-A)

- Ruth Okimoto (lived at Poston 327-4-C, featured in Passing Poston, and author of Sharing A Desert Home).

LOCATION:

Military Intelligence Service Historic Learning Center

Building # 640

640 Mason Street

Presidio San Francisco, CA 94129

SATURDAY, MAY 31, 2014 SCHEDULE

1:00-2:00 pm - Light refreshments reception.

2:00-4:00 pm - Film screening,  Passing Poston (106 minutes) documentary with 10 minute intermission

4:00-4:45 pm - Panel Discussion with Question & Answer

To watch a trailer of the documentary film, Passing Poston, click here:Trailer of the documentary film, Passing Poston

For more information, click here:Military Intelligence Service Historic Learning Center 

Washington Union High School Easton, CA

     Washington Union High School in Easton will give honorary diplomas to 19 second-generation Japanese-Americans who would have graduated from the school if not for their internment during World War II.

     The ceremony will be at 7 p.m. on June 6, 2014 during the school's regular commencement, to be held in Washington Union's new John Ventura Stadium.

     Washington Union alumna Jean Yamamoto is organizing the event for second-generation Japanese-Americans (Nisei) who were pulled out of the high school soon after the start of World War II and sent with their families to government internment camps. Those affected were in the classes of 1942-45.

     Yamamoto said she's seeking information on 19 honorary graduates: Hisaye Kanegawa, Mari Kimura, Marie Matsumoto, Sanai Watarida and Haruye, Kiyoshi and Shizuko Muroi, Class of 1942; H. Hayashi (male), M. Hayashi (female), K. Hirasuna (female), K. Nagai (male), Katsuko Okimoto, B. Outa (male), Roy Sato and E. Takahashi (female), Class of 1943; Tom Nakayama, Class of 1944; and T. Kumasaki (female), Mits Matsumoto (male) and Aiko Outa, Class of 1945.

     Anyone with contact information for one of the 19 and/or their relatives is asked to call Yamamoto at (559) 260-7516 or email her at jnenyo@hotmail.com.

     Yamamoto said relatives are encouraged to accept the diploma if the honoree can't.