This short documentary tells the story of the “Puyallup Assembly Center” through the recollections of nine individuals who ranged in age from four to eighteen when they were incarcerated at the Puyallup Fairgrounds.

Funding for the video was provided by the Kip Tokuda Memorial Washington Civil Liberties Public Education Program, a program of the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) of Washington State.

Educators may request student activity booklets that accompany the video. Contact us at PuyallupValleyJACL@gmail.com to obtain copies.

Acknowledgements

We thank the following survivors for sharing their memories and experiences

• Mary Tanaka Abo
• James Akagi
• Victor “Junks” Ikeda
• ​Louise Tsuboi Kashino
• Shiogi “Stogie” Kawabata
• Choichi “Cho” Shimizu
• George “Joker” Shimizu
• Elsie Yotsuuye Taniguchi
• Shokichi “Shox” Tokita

Introduced by Kent Hojem, CEO of the Washington State Fair, the video also features Bev Kashino and Sean Ohashi to provide a contemporary perspective and reflection on the relevance of these events for future generations. Additionally, Fred Orton speaks about the acts of kindness, through which his father and grandparents supported their Japanese friends and neighbors during this dark chapter in American history. Learn more about other profound acts of kindness here.