Irei: National Monument for the WWII Japanese American Incarceration Launch

On September 24, 2022, the Japanese American National Museum hosted a private event to consecrate and install the Ireichō, a sacred book that records the names of over 125,000 persons of Japanese ancestry who were unjustly imprisoned in US Army, Department of Justice, and War Relocation Authority camps during World War II.
A procession of interfaith clergy, survivors, and descendants from seventy-five World War II incarceration sites carried the Ireichō and sotoba (wooden markers) with the names and soil from each site on them from JANM’s Historic Building to the Aratani Central Hall inside the Museum, where it was ceremonially consecrated and installed.
JANM’s Historic Building, is the former Nishi Hongwanji Buddhist Temple. Built in 1925, the temple was a social hub, a site of forced removal during World War II, a storage center for Japanese Americans’ belongings during World War II, and a hostel for Japanese Americans returning to the Los Angeles area after the war.
The Ireichō is part of the Irei: National Monument for the WWII Japanese American Incarceration project. The multi-faceted project addresses the erasure of the identities of individuals of Japanese ancestry who experienced wartime incarceration and to expand the concept of what monument is through three distinct, interlinking elements: a sacred book of names as a monument (Ireichō), a website as a monument (Ireizō), and light sculptures as monuments (Ireihi).
The public is invited to view the names and use a special Japanese hanko (a stamp or seal) to leave a mark for each person in the Ireichō as a way to honor those incarcerated during World War II. Community participation will “activate” it and rectify the historical record by correcting misspelled names or revealing names that may have been omitted from the record. The Ireichō will be on display at JANM through September 24, 2023. However, RSVPs are required.
Visit janm.org/ireicho to learn more and to RSVP.
The project is funded by the Mellon Foundation and led by Duncan Ryuken Williams, co-curator of Sutra and Bible: Faith and the Japanese American World War II Incarceration at JANM, professor of American Studies and Ethnicity, chair of the USC School of Religion, and director of the USC Shinso Ito Center for Japanese Religions and Culture, and Project Creative Director, Sunyoung Lee.
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Projects like this are made possible by the generous support of JANM’s members and donors. Become a member (janm.org/membership​) or consider making a tax-deductible gift so that we can continue to present more films like these: janm.org/donatenow​. Your support makes a difference. Thank you!
Japanese American National Museum
100 N. Central Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
janm.org

[@bmotzbmotz]

❤❤❤ Thank you

[@mittensscarves7197]

I don't know if anyone will see or respond, but who are the indigenous peoples singing the prayer song? When I was first told about this event and shown the video it was so wonderful to see my people giving honour to the friends, families, living, and deceased who were/have been/are impacted by the incarceration camps.

[@janmdotorg]

Hello! The indigenous leader at the ceremony was Harold Hill (Apsáalooke/Crow Tobacco Society Member and Pipelighter for Return to Foretop’s Father, 2022) who has worked closely with the Heart Mountain Foundation in recent years collaborating on the Heart Mountain Pilgrimage (Japanese Americans) and Return to Foretop’s Father pilgrimage to Heart Mountain for the Apsáalooke/Crow. He led the chanting and was joined by his daughter Sharmayne Hill and his brother Johnny Yellowtail.

[@mittensscarves7197]

@@janmdotorg omg tysm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!