Pilgrimage to Amache

From August 1942 to October 1945, the Amache incarceration camp on the dusty, desolate eastern plain of Colorado detained 10,000 Japanese Americans and other immigrants. Those imprisoned at Amache built their own town with a fire department, a beauty salon and schools. Detainees raised crops, grew gardens and held festivals to honor the changing seasons.

Just children when uprooted with their families during World War II, the survivors of the camp were left to make sense of what happened to their families while their parents wanted to move on. The next generation of Japanese Americans, the grandchildren of prison camp survivors, are working to ensure their family’s history and legacy do not disappear into the dust.

In our eighth episode this season, we talk with Amache survivors and their families who have been visiting the site on an annual pilgrimage for decades. Academic researchers and students have worked with the survivors to uncover and preserve their history. Their work was recognized nationally this past March when Amache became the newest national park.

Special guests:

Carlene Tanigoshi Tinker, an 82-year-old survivor of Amache Ken Kitajima, a 91-year-old Amache survivor  Erin Tsurumoto Grassi, the granddaughter of Amache survivors  Mitch Homma, the son of Amache survivors Bonnie J. Clark, professor of anthropology at the University of DenverCalvin Hada, president of the Nikkeijin-Kai of Colorado Gabriel “Jack” Chin, law professor at the University of California DavisRichard Primus, law professor at the University of Michigan

This episode was produced by Kirk McDaniel. Intro music by The Dead Pens.

Editorial staff is Bill Dotinga, Sean Duffy and Jamie Ross.