A Visit to the Japanese American National Museum

Right out front of JANM, there is an augmented reality installation by artist, Masaki Fujihata. Visitors check out an iPad and step back in time to the year 1942 where they can walk around in the recreation among Japanese Americans on the verge of leaving for the camps. This installation was inspired by the March and May 1942 photographs of Los Angeles-based incarcerees being taken to Manzanar and the Santa Anita temporary detention facility.

This is the Heart Mountain tile installation at JANM. Each tile consists of sand and dirt taken from the camp along with personal items from incarcerees. It is said that one of these items belongs to Bill Shishima, who was one of the key inspirations with the development of the Sakamoto family in Desolate Dreams: