Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to support legislation establishing February 19 as "Remembrance Day" for those Japanese who were sent to internment camps during World War II. Locally, an internment camp was set up at Santa Anita Park.
Ed Inouye of West Covina, whose family was sent to the internment camp at Santa Anita Park during World War II, died on February 19th. He was instrumental in getting the government to pay reparations to some of the imprisoned families.
Pasadena City College is preparing to tear down three campus buildings that were previously used as barracks in the Japanese Assembly Center at Santa Anita Park during WW II.
Arcadia Library presents Japanese Artist's Journey. The life and legacy of artist J.T. Sata will be the subject of a virtual program on October 10, presented by Arcadia Public Library in partnership with Japanese American National Museum. The book J.T. Sata: a Japanese Immigrant in Search of Western Art will be discussed by authors Frank Sata (son of J.T. Sata) and Naomi Hirahara. (J.T. Sata and family were imprisoned at Santa Anita Assembly Center during World War II).
Americans of Japanese descent gathered at Santa Anita Park yesterday to reflect on the dark period of history when Santa Anita Park was the largest assembly center for interned Japanese-Americans. Nearly 20,000 were processed at Santa Anita Park and sent to internment camps. Several people who were once incarcerated at Santa Anita Park were among those who gathered there at the Cherry Blossom Festival Southern California's 11th Annual Camp Stories Award Show and Auction.
Honorary degrees were awarded to Japanese-American former Pasadena City College students who had their educations cut short by internment during World War II. Japanese-American "nisei" students at what was then Pasadena Junior College never got the chance to graduate with the Class of 1942. One honorary graduate, Fusae Hamane (died in 1997), born and raised in Pasadena, was told to report to Santa Anita Park race track before being sent to a camp in Gila Bend, AZ. The graduation came 68 years later.
A new exhibit at the Ruth and Charles Gilb Arcadia Historical Museum is about the Santa Anita Assembly Center, a temporary facility at Santa Anita Park that held Japanese Americans before they were sent to more permanent internment camps during World War II. The opening reception will feature speakers Osamu Miyamoto, Akkiko Nomura and others. Dana Dunn is the curator.
Interview with author Brad Pearson who wrote the book The Eagles of Heart Mountain. He tackles the injustice of Japanese-American incarceration through the exploits of a World War II camp football team. Article mentions many evacuees were detained at Santa Anita racetrack in Arcadia before being shipped out.
World War II internees reunite. Japanese Americans detained at Santa Anita Park before being sent to camps share photos, memories and friendship, at 75th anniversary event in Little Tokyo. See hard copy in VF Assembly Center.
1. "Japanese buying Liberty Bonds." Arcadia Tribune, May 4, 1918. 2. Former students receive honorary degrees. World War II order delayed academic progress for two Japanese-American Citrus College students, Toshio Asano and Masako Mukai Kusumoto. Toshio Asano, 91, of Monrovia is pictured. He was a…
1. "Japanese buying Liberty Bonds." Arcadia Tribune, May 4, 1918.
2. Former students receive honorary degrees. World War II order delayed academic progress for two Japanese-American Citrus College students, Toshio Asano and Masako Mukai Kusumoto. Toshio Asano, 91, of Monrovia is pictured. He was a graduate of Monrovia High School a.k.a. Monrovia-Arcadia-Duarte MAD High School in 1941.
3. Yosh Kuromiya, a graduate of Monrovia-Arcadia-Duarte High School in 1941 was "the boy who never belonged," a feature article by Susie Ling, Arcadia Weekly, January 5, 2017. Kuromiya was evacuated to Pomona Fairgrounds and then to Heart Mountain concentration camp in Wyoming during World War II.
Actor and activist George Takei, 75, famous for his portrayal of Sulu on television series Star Trek, will talk about gay rights and a childhood spent in internment camps at Santa Anita Park (assembly center), Tule Lake and Rohwer, Arkansas, during World War II. He will be speaking at Cal Poly Pomona on Tuesday.
Arriving automobiles and their occupants' luggage are checked. In this photo, seven Japanese men watch and wait during the check, also two women. Four authorities do the checking at Santa Anita Assembly Center for the Japanese.
1. Horses replaced by houses at Santa Anita. Arcadia Tribune March 26, 1942. 2. Evacuation base rising at track. Arcadia Tribune March 26, 1942. 3. Santa Anita Race Track now converted. Arcadia Tribune April 8, 1942. 4. The above view of the 40 acre parking lot. news clip, n.d. circa 19…
1. Horses replaced by houses at Santa Anita. Arcadia Tribune March 26, 1942.
2. Evacuation base rising at track. Arcadia Tribune March 26, 1942.
3. Santa Anita Race Track now converted. Arcadia Tribune April 8, 1942.
4. The above view of the 40 acre parking lot. news clip, n.d. circa 1942.
5. Santa Anita Race Track opens its gates as temporary assembly. news clip, n.d. circa 1942.
6. Huntington Drive closing denied. Arcadia Tribune April 2, 1942.
7. We Wish to bring to your attention. Handwritten letter to the War Department to correct sewage problem at Center and its reply.
8. Birthright of Barbed Wire. re: book by that title.
9. Barricade lifted on Huntington. Arcadia Tribune October 29, 1942.
10. Nisei question. Los Angeles Times April 2, 1967.
11. Nisei evacuation brides. Los Angeles Times May 17, 1967.
12. They're off and running. Los Angeles Times December 26, 1974.
13. Another example of emergency wartime. History of the Los Angeles District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, p.13
14. She gets a diploma at 86. Los Angeles Times June 18, 1976.
15. Dismal memories rekindled - Fashion Park: WWII campsite. Arcadia Tribune, June 2, 1974, p. A1.
16. Camp Santa Anita. San Gabriel Valley Tribune. April 17, 1977.
17. Information sheet giving data on Center newspaper and location of Center records.
18. Famed track has infamous past. Arcadia Tribune. March 26, 1978.
19. Selected bibliography of Japanese Relocation on the West Coast WWII 1942-1945, made at the time of display of National Archives photos in April of 1979.
20. Santa Anita Pacemaker. Photocopy of part of the front page of newspaper for the Center. June 9, 1942.
21. Study of relocation centers for Japanese during WWII completed by Raymond Okamura in 1980. (30 page report sent to Arcadia Public Library December 14, 1981 in response to query by P. McAdam.)
22. Pacific Citizen December 19-26, 1980. Maps and descriptions of the 14 Assembly Centers in California during WWII.
23. Photos on display. Highlander newsclip with photo. April 11, 1979.
24. News release March 9, 1979 about exhibit at Arcadia Public Library.
25. Constitution drawn up by evacuees shortly after establishment of Center. San Gabriel Valley Tribune April 17, 1977.
26. Copy of Executive Order 9066 from CFR Title 3, The President 1938-1943 Compilation.
27. Reparations awaken painful recollections. Los Angeles Times, part IX, p.1 August 18, 1988
28. "The decision to evacuate the Japanese from the West Coast." Greenfield, Kent Roberts, COMMMAND DECISIONS, chapter 4.
29. "The relocation of the Japanese." Bean, Walton. CALIFORNIA: AN INTERPRETIVE HISTORY, 2nd ed. p. 430-438.
30. "Wartime problems." Rolle, Andrew F. CALIFORNIA: A HISTORY. 3rd ed, p.521-524.
31. Fifty years ago, racing went to war, too. THE RACING TIMES, p. 1. December 7, 1991.
32. Best bet: American Friends Service Committee found drawer of documents. Los Angeles Times May 9, 1993.
33. Friends Journal (Quaker Thought and Life Today) November 1992.
34. An Interrupted Heritage. Book review of STUBBORN TWIG by Laura Kessler. Three generations in the life of a Japanese American family. Los Angeles Times January 9, 1994, p.4.
35. Folder of copies of photos of life at the Camp; description of photos provided by National Archives (includes photographer's name and date.)
36. Instructions to all persons of Japanese ancestry. Copy of poster regarding evacuation.
37. "Internment of Japanese Americans." Documents from the National Archives produced by the Education Branch.
38. Photo of plaque at Santa Anita Park recognizing the Park's use as an Assembly Center for the Japanese during WWII. Taken August 2002.
39. Stitches in time, Quilt tells story of 'Life behind Barbed Wire'. Michi Murayama of Alhambra made a full-size memory quilt documenting the experience of her and her families' incarceration in the Santa Anita Assembly Hall and the Jerome Location Center in Arkansas. Pasadena Star News June 30, 2001, p. D1.
40. Photcopies and descriptions of photographs taken by Clem Albers at the Santa Anita Assembly Center, 1942. From the War Relocation Authority, Midland Savings Bldg., Denver, Colorado.
41. Correspondence from Bronslaw Kielbasa to Arcadia Public Library dated September 1, 1998 with "Report on Civilian Detention Camp Tuna Canyon, Tujunga, California, May 28, 1942." (Declassified information from the General Records of State Department.)
42. Postcard about a book signing at Vroman's in Pasadena for "The Evacuation Diary of Hatsuye Egami" by Claire Gorfinkel. (Tulare Assembly Center, California)
43. Rising Sons, Remembering America's forgotten wartime casualties - Prisoners of race by Jana J. Monji. Pasadena Weekly, February 13, 2003, p.14.
44. Racing plant will shelter enemy aliens - stables being turned into quarters for evacuees. The Pasadena Post, March 23, 1942.
45. Army closes highway near evacuee camp - portion of Huntington Drive barricaded indefinitely. The Pasadena Post, May 15, 1942.
46. "Santa Anita Track Opens Gates as Temporary Assembly Station for Japanese." News clipping of large photograph with caption. Accompanying story not available. No date. Circa 1942.
47. "Santa Anita gates open to 1000 Japs: evacuees from San Pedro and Long Beach find well-prepared plant for assembly," Los Angeles Times, April 4, 1942.
48. "Charges filed against Japs: Santa Anita internees accused of violating reception center rules, " Los Angeles Times, June 25, 1942.
49. "Behind the line with Dick Hyland," column with biography of Michael Henry Fidelis Mahoney, who for the last four months has been the assistant personnel relations officer at the Santa Anita Assembly Center for the Japanese. Los Angeles Times, June 30, 1942.
50. "Health peril meeting set: Arcadia seeks action on sewage condition at Santa Anita Jap Camp," Los Angeles Times, July 13, 1942.
51. "Jap evacuation work criticized: Leland Ford calls it social experiment and hits lack of guards, " Los Angeles Times, July 19, 1942.
52. "Japanese to start moving from Santa Anita Wednesday," Los Angeles Times, August 22, 1942.
53. "Thousand Japanese to leave Santa Anita over week-end," Los Angeles Times, September 19, 1942.
54. "More Japs leave Arcadia: transfer of 500 to Arkansas cuts camp population under 8000," Los Angeles Times, September 26, 1942.
55. "Army will move 5000 Japs by end of week," Los Angeles Times, April 1, 1942.
56. "Aliens jam Santa Anita: thousand Japanese moved from harbor by trains and autos," Los Angeles Times, April 6, 1942.
57. "Bay City Japs en route here: evacuees to bring total at Santa Anita to 3150; many await transfer," Los Angeles Times, April 7, 1942.
58. "Center gets 1246 Japs from south: contingent arriving on four special trains swells population at Santa Anita to 4353," Los Angeles Times, April 9, 1942.
59. "More awaiting Santa Anita trip: Downey and Lawndale Japanese must be evacuated by Tuesday," Los Angeles Times, April 11, 1942.
60. "Japs leave Downey and Lawndale tomorrow: army officials will move 2500 by auto and bus to Santa Anita," Los Angeles Times, April 12, 1942.
61. "More Japanese leaving today: Downey and Lawndale exodus scheduled to be completed tomorrow," Los Angeles Times, April 13, 1942.
62. "Japs in two more city areas ordered out: April 29 set as deadline, number told to leave Los Angeles since Saturday now 5000," Los Angeles Times, April 20, 1942.
63. "New Japanese exodus from coast ordered: latest evacuation decree will affect nearly 13,000 , including 5950 in southland area," Los Angeles Times, April 22, 1942.
64. "Japs to get final orders: instruction for mass evacuation May 1 will be given over week-end," Los Angeles Times, April 23, 1942.
65. "Japs register for removals: hundreds line up at two control stations under Army's orders," Los Angeles Times, April 26, 1942.
66. "New batch of Japanese ouster orders announced: thousands more to depart for Santa Anita and Tulare Reception Centers next Thursday," Los Angeles Times, May 1, 1942.
67. "Army orders removal of 2100 more Japanese: heads of families in two sections of city must register tomorrow and Tuesday," Los Angeles Times, May 3, 1942.
68. "Downtown Japs register: two churches utilized for signing of 2100 more for evacuation," Los Angeles Times, May 5, 1942.
69. "Japs will go to Pomona Fairgrounds camp: more aliens told to move, new evacuation orders will take half of Nipponese from coast," Los Angeles Times, May 6, 1942.
70. "Population of Santa Anita Japanese Center now 13,000: another contingent arrives as settlement at Pomona prepares to receive first group of evacuees tomorrow," Los Angeles Times, May 7, 1942.
71. "Army moves 793 from Little Tokyo: Japs centered at Santa Anita with second batch of 548 sent directly to Manzanar," Los Angeles Times, May 9, 1942.
72. "Japs gambling charges filed: complaints against 10 arrested in raid on Santa Anita issued," Los Angeles Times, May 26, 1942.
73. "Santa Anita Center officials defended: noted citizens familiar with conditions deny Japanese evacuees are kept underfed," Los Angeles Times, May 31, 1942.
74. Letters to The Times -- Feeding of Japanese, by Mrs. C.B.S., Arcadia. Los Angeles Times, June 3, 1942.
75. "Santa Anita Japs end sit-down: work on project resumed by 800," Los Angeles Times, June 18, 1942.
76. "Japanese-Chinese wedding deferred: girl didn't want mate to live at Santa Anita," Los Angeles Times, July 11, 1942.
77. "American-born Jap wants to enter war poster contest," Los Angeles Times, July 12, 1942.
78. "Wipe-out of Santa Anita Race Track assessment refused: appeal to board says Turf Club put out of business by Federal use of plant as Jap Assembly Center," Los Angeles Times, July 25, 1942.
79. "Santa Anita liquor smuggling plot charged as four booked: two stewards, chef and cook accused of scheme to take in whisky for sale to Japanese," Los Angeles Times, August 8, 1942.
80. "Troops quell Jap riot of 2000 at Santa Anita," Los Angeles Times, August 8, 1942.
81. "Fire sweeps roof at Santa Anita: blaze controlled by Jap-manned force," Los Angeles Times, August 25, 1942.
82. "Santa Anita Japs will be moved: three thousand will leave for Colorado Relocation Center," Los Angeles Times, September 15, 1942.
83. "Rigid Manzanar control sought: Leland Ford warns 'Socialistic experiment' will cause more trouble," Los Angeles Times, December 11, 1942.
84. "Remembering Pearl Harbor--differently," Los Angeles Times, April 4, 1972.
85. "L.A. Then and Now: Racetrack had part in dark chapter of history," by Alison Bell, Los Angeles Times, November 8, 2009, p. A44.
86. Bacon Sakatani: Valley man shares internment experience. The Weekly Star, October 14, 2010. Although Sakatani's family was sent to Pomona Fairgrounds temporarily, then to Heart Mountain Relocation Center in Wyoming, Santa Anita Race Track in Arcadia is mentioned.
87. Application for registration of historical landmark # 934, the temporary detention camps for Japanese Americans, in the counties of Fresno, Inyo, Los Angeles, Merced, Monterey, Sacramento, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Stanislaus, Tulare, and Yuba. May 13, 1980.
88. Plaque at Santa Anita Goes Unnoticed. A plaque dedicated to the Japanese Americans who were "processed" at Santa Anita Park was erected in May, with little fanfare. Arcadia Weekly, p. 1, 22, December 13, 2001.
89. Executive Order 9066 was signed 75 years ago today. The other date of infamy. by Stephanie K. Baer, Pasadena Star News, February 19, 2017. Retrieved from Pasadenastarnews.com on February 21, 2017.
90. Internees reunite: Japanese-Americans detained at Santa Anita Park before being shipped to camps share photos, memories and friendship at 75th anniversary event in Little Tokyo. Pasadena Star News, April 16, 2017.
91. Transcription of interview with Mrs. Murayama, October 1998. She spoke of her incarceration at Santa Anita Assembly Center, living in horse stables and army-type barracks. Oral history. See PDF in K: drive.
92. Documentary to Share Citizens' Stories, Memories. Pasadena Star News, March 6, 2023. Effort to document Japanese American encampments at the Santa Anita Race Track in Arcadia, the Fairplex in Pomona and ten other temporary California detention centers. Three detainees now in their nineties (Bacon Sakatani, Mike Hatchimonji and Ted Hamachi) share their memories with writer Sharon Yamato, photojournalist Stan Honda and historian Brian Niiya. The goal of the project, is to create a website that compares how sites look today with how they looked in 1942, as well as how the public can find the centers.
Eleven newly-arrived Japanese line up for processing at Santa Anita Assembly Center for the Japanese. One Japanese staff member is present as are ten soldiers standing guard.
Corey Nakatani, the only Japanese American riding professionally as a jockey in southern California, often races at Santa Anita Park, the same place where his grandparents were detained during World War II in the then Santa Anita Assembly Center. He is profiled.
