The Wakasa Monument History @North
with Nancy Ukai
Thursday, June 18
6:00pm - 7:00pm
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2026-06-18 18:00:00
2026-06-18 19:00:00
America/Los_Angeles
The Wakasa Monument History @North
Join writer and researcher Nancy Ukai to learn about the origins, history, and present of the James Hatsuaki Wakasa Memorial in Topaz, UT.
North Branch - North Branch Meeting Room
North Branch
North Branch Meeting RoomJoin writer and researcher Nancy Ukai to learn about the origins, history, and present of the James Hatsuaki Wakasa Memorial in Topaz, UT.
On April 11, 1943, James Hatsuaki Wakasa was walking his dog in the Topaz War Relocation Center in Utah when he was shot and killed by a guard. "Inmates at Topaz demanded a public funeral at the site of Wakasa’s death, but government officials denied the request and the funeral was held a half mile away. Over 2,000 people attended Wakasa’s funeral, which featured several large wreaths made of paper flowers made by the women of Topaz. The government also prohibited any monument to Wakasa. Defying this order, a large stone monument to Wakasa was built by Issei (first generation Japanese Americans) near the spot where he died. The monument is estimated at about five feet tall and 1,000 pounds. When Assistant Secretary of War John J. McCloy heard of the monument and saw photos, he demanded that all evidence be removed. The Issei buried the monument in 1943 but left a small part of it showing. It lay undisturbed for 77 years until it was rediscovered in 2020." (source: The Wakasa Memorial Committee).
Join us to learn more about this historic tragedy and community response, the monument's recovery, it's current whereabouts, and the repercussions at every step.
About Nancy Ukai: Nancy Ukai is a writer and researcher who helped lead a social media protest to stop the Rago auction of Japanese American concentration camp artifacts in 2015. Researching the provenance of the Eaton auction items deepened her interest in objects. She is co-administrator of the Facebook page Japanese American History: Not for Sale. Nancy lived in Japan for 14 years, working as a Fulbright English Fellow, a weaving apprentice at a Buddhist temple and as a journalist at the Tokyo bureau of Newsweek. In 2008 she received a master’s degree in media anthropology from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. She is a Topaz descendant.
AGE GROUP: | Adults |
EVENT TYPE: | Literacy, Learning & Lectures | Cultural & Heritage |
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