Yoshiko Kanazawa: A Wartime Journey

Yoshiko Kanazawa, a resident of San Jose and docent at the Japanese American Museum of San Jose, recalls her family’s wartime experience through a child’s eyes.

Born in 1935 as the daughter of Denjiro and Teruha Nakahiro—two Issei (first-generation immigrants) from Shikoku, Japan—Yoshiko was raised in the diverse Southern California neighborhood of Pasadena with four older brothers and sisters.

In her talk, she describes her life as a Japanese American before, during, and after World War II, and her experience being forced to relocate to Gila River incarceration camp in Arizona.

Mrs. Kanazawa says, “I feel we need to tell this story and make sure we do not repeat that part of history.”

This free event received funding support from the Friends of the Menlo Park Library.

Wednesday, April 08, 2026 | 06:00 PM - 07:30 PM
Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma St., Menlo Park, CA, 94025

ONE BOOK, ONE COAST:

Throughout the months of April and May, Menlo Park is partnering with LA County library and nearly 200 library systems across California, Washington, and Oregon for One Book, One Coast, a shared community reading program that celebrates literacy, learning, community, and civil discourse. Join us for two months of special programming bringing Japanese American history and culture to life.

3/22-5/17
Exhibition: Am I An American or Am I Not?
Fred Korematsu challenged the mass imprisonment of Japanese Americans during WWII.

4/8
A Wartime Journey
Yoshiko Kanazawa talks about being forced to relocate to an incarceration camp as a child.

4/10
Japanese Storytime
Ages 2-5 with adult: high-energy storytime full of Japanese culture—all in Japanese

4/14
Draw Manga Moods
Age 8-Adult: draw expressive faces using the unique visual language of Japanese comics

4/20
Sacramento's Lost Japantown
Live virtual event with California Museum

4/21
Teen Book Group (Ages 12-17)
They Called Us Enemy, by George Takei

5/2
Koto Performance and Film
Musician Shirley Kazuyo Muramoto on preserving culture in the "camps"

5/4
Americans Behind Barbed Wire
Meet people who lived through mass incarceration, & their family members

5/17
Japanese Taiko Drumming
Drummer Kristy "Aki" Oshiro shares Japanese language, culture, and history

5/31
Author Talk with George Takei
One Book, One Coast wraps up with a special visit from They Called Us Enemy author George Takei, livestreamed from the East Los Angeles Library.

More free events with Menlo Park Library

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