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George Takei reflects on the incarceration of Japanese Americans ahead of local events

George Takei is on Oʻahu for two events in remembrance of the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II.
Courtesy of George Takei
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George Takei is on Oʻahu for two events in remembrance of the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II.

Many will be observing the Day of Remembrance next Monday. President Biden set the day aside in 2022 to remember the over 125,000 Japanese Americans incarcerated in camps between 1942 and 1945.

On Oʻahu, Honpa Hongwanji will commemorate the occasion with two lectures by actor, author and social justice advocate George Takei. He's best known as Sulu from the original "Star Trek" series.

Takei was 5 years old when he and his family were moved at gunpoint from their Los Angeles home to a prison camp in Arkansas.

He's the inspiration behind "Allegiance," a musical production about Japanese American families living in the camps. Takei continues to travel and teach audiences about that period of history.

This historic photo shows kindergarten children at the Rohwer Relocation Center near McGehee, Arkansas, waving goodbye to their teacher on June 16, 1945, as their mothers call for them on their last day in the barrack schoolroom, the only school they have ever known. (AP Photo)
AP
This historic photo shows kindergarten children at the Rohwer Relocation Center near McGehee, Arkansas, waving goodbye to their teacher on June 16, 1945, as their mothers call for them on their last day in the barrack schoolroom, the only school they have ever known. (AP Photo)

"I am committed to doing what I can to prevent wars from happening, because of my childhood experience being incarcerated in American prison camps, because of the irrational reaction that the United States government and President Roosevelt had to the bombing of Pearl Harbor in Hawaiʻi," Takei said.

He said part of his mission is to enlighten those who don't know a lot about the incarceration of Japanese Americans — especially younger people whose grandparents and parents were in the camps.

"It's an important part of American history that has particular ramifications for what's going on today. So I emphasize the importance of this story being an American story," Takei added.

Takei will be giving two lectures in Nu’uanu on Sunday, Feb. 18. The free morning service will be at Honpa Hongwanji and on Zoom. The paid evening event will be at the adjacent Pacific Buddhist Academy.

Correction: During the live broadcast of this story, we incorrectly said both events are free. The evening talk is not free.

This story aired on The Conversation on Feb. 14, 2024. The Conversation airs weekdays at 11 a.m. on HPR-1.

Born in Honolulu and raised on Hawaiʻi Island, Russell Subiono has spent the last decade working in local film, television and radio. He was previously the executive producer of The Conversation and host of HPR's This Is Our Hawaiʻi podcast. Contact him at rsubiono@hawaiipublicradio.org.
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