BOISE, Idaho — A new exhibit titled "Courage and Compassion: Our Shared Story of the Japanese American World War II Experience," is opening at The Idaho State Museum.
"Explore the origins of Idaho's Japanese American communities, the experiences of "voluntary evacuees," life in Minidoka War Relocation Center, and more, Courage and Compassion features artifacts generously contributed by veterans' families and the National Park Service. Highlights include Congressional Medals of Honor awarded to men of the 442nd, uniforms, and pieces of art created by Japanese Americans incarcerated in Minidoka War Relocation Center," a news release stated.
The exhibit will teach people about the treatment of Japanese Americans following Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor.
The museum is hosting a grand opening of the exhibit on May 4 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The event will have crafts, talks, performances and a roundtable discussion. The discussion will be moderated by Kurt Ikeda, Chief of Interpretation and Community Outreach at Minidoka National Historic Site, and include Dr. Emily Anderson, curator from the Japanese American National Museum; Jim Jones, former Idaho Attorney General and Supreme Court Justice and Teresa Tamura, author of Minidoka: An American Concentration Camp.
"The Courage and Compassion exhibit explores stories of Japanese American life during WWII. Interactive multimedia elements, artifacts, interviews, rare photographs, and archival documents chronicle experiences such as Japanese American service in the segregated 442nd unit as well as incarceration in Idaho's arid Snake River Plain. Despite many hardships, acts of courage and compassion left a lasting impact on communities across America, including those in the Gem State," a news release stated.
The exhibit, presented by Go For Broke National Education Center is also supported by local sponsors, Amalgamated Sugar, Judy and Steve Meyer, Bob and Janet Komoto and the Foundation for Idaho History will run through the spring of 2025.
"Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, forever changed the lives of Japanese Americans across the U.S. Those living on the West Coast faced removal and incarceration, while many living in inland states found themselves the target of anti-Japanese sentiment. From heroes who rose to the call of military service to those who served as civilian allies, Courage and Compassion explores the stories that shaped the Japanese American experience during WWII. This traveling exhibition features a media touch table, a voting exercise, and Idaho exclusive content co-developed with guest curators and local community partners," the release stated.
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