Unfolding Memories: Art of Testimony bridges past and present through art, illuminating the experiences of Japanese and Japanese Americans during WWII. The exhibition features original artworks inspired by interviews conducted by the artist with survivors of wartime. By reflecting on the cost of war in both defeated and victorious nations, this exhibition brings to light lessons of the past that resonate within today’s sociopolitical environment. Created as a space for dialogue and remembrance, Unfolding Memories invites viewers to reflect across generations and cultures, encouraging empathy in today’s divided world.
Aug 9 – Aug 31, 2025
LA Artcore
120 Judge John Aiso St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
LA Artcore
120 Judge John Aiso St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Moderator & Panelists at the Opening Reception
Diana Emiko Tsuchida is a Japanese American historian and founder of Tessaku, an oral history project about Japanese American incarceration during WWII. She’s affiliated with the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California and previously worked at the Go For Broke National Education Center. Her work has been featured by NPR and NBC’s Asian Pacific America. She holds degrees from UC Santa Cruz and San Francisco State University.
Takashi Hoshizaki (b. 1925) was among the youngest of the 63 Japanese American draft resisters tried at Heart Mountain in 1944. After refusing to report for his draft physical in protest of the incarceration of Japanese Americans, he was convicted and sentenced to three years at McNeil Island federal penitentiary. Following his release, he earned degrees from UCLA, served in Korea, and became a respected scientist and educator. Now 100 years old, he remains a powerful voice for civil rights and remembrance
Sally Hamamoto (née Misao Muranaga, born 1927) is a former Amache incarceration camp internee. During World War II, her brother, Kiyoshi Muranaga, served in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Her husband, Shigeo Hamamoto, was incarcerated at Tule Lake as a result of the government’s controversial loyalty questionnaire.
Setsuo Tomita (born 1931) was incarcerated at the Manzanar camp during World War II at the age of 10. A U.S. Air Force veteran and longtime community advocate, Setsuo remains active in educating others about the Japanese American incarceration experience and the ongoing relevance of civil liberties.