Commemoration of the 82nd Anniversary of Forced Removal

March 30, 2024.

The Commemoration of the 82nd Anniversary of Forced Removal will be held on March 30th, 11:00 a.m. at the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial. The theme of this year’s program is “Teach the Children,” addressing the need for a new generation to share the stories of incarceration survivors. The keynote speaker is Natalie Sakuma, who will talk about the legacy of her grandfather, Satoru Sakuma, who served in the decorated 442nd regimental combat team after his incarceration in Manzanar and Minidoka. Natalie is a fourth-generation Japanese American and a teacher in the Sedro-Woolley School District.

Other speakers include:
Barbara Lawrence of the Suquamish Tribe
Val Tollefson, board president of the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial Association
Clarence Moriwaki, Bainbridge Island City Council member
Drew Hansen, Washington State Senator
Chasity Malatesta of the Multicultural Advisory Council
Michele Bombardier, with a reading of the poem “In Remembrance”
Ken Matsudaira and Taiga Araki, with a reading of the 276 names on the Memorial Wall

Related Events:

• A complimentary post-event luncheon will be held immediately following the Commemoration ceremony in the 2nd floor classroom for Survivors and their families at the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art (BIMA), 550 Winslow Way W, Bainbridge Island.
• A screening of the critically acclaimed film Omoiyari: A Song Film by Kishi Bashi will be held in the BIMA auditorium at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are $12 for members, $10 for non-members. Please inquire about complimentary tickets for survivors and their families by emailing [email protected]. Tickets are limited.
• A panel discussion immediately following Omoiyari: “Alternative Ways of Storytelling,” with Robyn Achilles, Executive Director of Friends of Minidoka, and Lorraine Bannai, Professor Emerita, Seattle U. School of Law and Director Emerita, Fred T. Korematsu Center for Law & Equality. Admission is free.
• Stop by Sakai Intermediate School and the Bainbridge Island History Museum from 1 – 4 p.m. on March 30th to visit their March 30th receptions.
• Questions? Please inquire at [email protected]