On view for one weekend, Tree of Remembrance honors the legacy of the original Wakasa Memorial Monument. This installation reflects on the painful chapter of American history that began with the signing of Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942, which led to the forced removal of Japanese Americans from the West Coast to incarceration camps during World War II.
The tragic loss of life, including the murder of James Hatsuaki Wakasa by a guard at the Topaz Incarceration Camp, serves as a somber reminder of the hardships faced by Japanese Americans during this period. In the years since, the U.S. government has acknowledged these wrongs and offered redress. Every February, Americans are invited to reflect on the impact of racial profiling and to honor those who endured injustice.
We invite you to join us for a weekend of reflection through this immersive installation, which includes projections, sculpture, and community gathering. Visitors are encouraged to share their thoughts and memories by writing on a memory tag and adding it to the Tree of Remembrance.
