The Wakasa Monument History @North

with Nancy Ukai

Join writer and researcher Nancy Ukai to learn about the origins, history, and present of the James Hatsuaki Wakasa Memorial in Topaz, UT. Two short films will be shown.

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 large wreaths 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 2,000 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, its current whereabouts, and recent developments. 

About Nancy Ukai: Nancy Ukai is a Berkeley native and the grandchild of immigrants who operated a cut flower nursery on Sixth Street from the 1910s. She is project director of the 50 Objects history website and a founding member of the Wakasa Memorial Committee. Nancy attended Berkeley public schools and attended UC Santa Cruz. She lived in Japan for 14 years, working as a Fulbright English Fellow, a weaving apprentice at a Buddhist temple and as a journalist. 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 Tanforan and Topaz descendant.

Upcoming Events