Timeline
2013-2015
Students of Public Arts for Social Justice (SPASJ), a student group on campus, began a campaign on campus to install a Japanese American memorial on campus, following the completion of the construction at the Men’s Gymnasium.
SPASJ was founded for the purpose of educating students and community members on local and global violations of human rights, through the use of public art. Using public art as a platform to initiate a regional dialogue on human rights, social justice, and civil liberties, SPASJ hopes to contribute to the prevention of future injustices globally and within our own communities.
The SPASJ Kick-Off took place on April 14, 2014 at the SJSU Associated Students BBQ Area (Now the new science building) In collaboration with Associated Students SJSU and the Cesar Chavez Community Action Center, they took part in the 9th Annual Poverty Under the Stars. During their tabling, they collaborated with Jimi Yamaichi, co-founder of the Japanese American Museum of San Jose, and brought out a model of the 10 camps, which is used to this day at the annual San Jose Day of Remembrance program. In addition, they got the support of the Silicon Valley NAACP and the Japanese American Museum of San Jose.
SPASJ Group Members: James Matsumoto, Barbara Barfield, Brian Nicolas, Edward Matthew Escalante, Chika Minami, Kasey Fields, Matteo Poort, Megan Watson, Ryan Garcia, and Tanya Koroyan.
Fall 2021
Mikomi Yoshikawa-Baker, Emma Segura, and Sarah Justice present a class project called, “Justice for Japanese”, a campaign to bring mural depictions of the Japanese American Incarceration at Uchida Hall in a Social Action class at SJSU. In partnership with Stories for Solidarity, they hosted various events in the community and met with campus leaders. Throughout the project, they worked with several art guilds, artist design teams, race-based organizations, fraternities, activists, and artists around the world on how the methods of the project needed to be centered around uniting/healing the community. They did archival research, pitched this project to community organizations, and created promotional literature.
February 2022
Mikomi Yoshikawa-Baker, as founder of Stories for Solidarity, hosted a Day of Remembrance candlelight vigil at City Hall.
March 2022
Mikomi Yoshikawa-Baker, Emma Sequra, and 2021-2022 A.S. President Anoop Kaur present the project to the 2021-2022 Associated Students Board of Directors. They unanimously approve $10,000 for the construction of the mural in April 2022.
April 2022
In the month of April, students, staff, and community members fold 2,487 Cranes of Remembrance to honor and remember the 2,487 people processed at Uchida Hall Boys’ Gym.
2021-2022 A.S. Vice President Nina Chuang and Dr. Yvonne Kwan of Asian American Studies put together a 2 month in-person exhibit called “Reckoning Our Past, Engaging the Present, Facing Our Future: Recognizing San Jose State's role in Anti-Asian racism and the internment of Japanese Americans” at the Associated Students House that features artifacts from the Japanese American Museum of San Jose, archives from the San José State Special Archives Collection, and the Cranes of Remembrance for APID/A Heritage Month. You can view the virtual exhibit here.
At the Exhibit Kick Off on April 12th, there were featured panelist speakers:
Edwin Tan (Community & Government Relations SJSU), Will Kaku (SJ Nihonmachi Outreach Committee), Roy Hirabayashi (SJ Taiko & Alumni, Japantown Community Congress), Dr. Yvonne Kwan (AAS Department), Jace Chang (SJSU Student, MOSAIC), and Susan Hayase (SJ Nikkei Resisters).
June 2022
On June 1st, 2022-2023 A.S. President Nina Chuang hosts “Moment of Silence & Cranes of Remembrance”, in remembrance of the event on June 1st, 1942 Student Body President Don True and student council walking with students and waving goodbye to Japanese American students at the train station as they boarded buses to camp 80 years prior.
Event included a community discussion with campus leaders, students, and faculty followed by a moment of silence and march. Featured guest speaker Will Kaku from SJ Nihonmachi Outreach Committee.
August 2022
2022-2023 A.S. President Nina Chuang presents to newly elected 2022-2023 Associated Students Board of Directors as the organization revisits the efforts on the project.
September 2022
2022-2023 A.S. President Nina Chuang presents mural project to University Campus Planning Board
February 2023
On February 15th, the Inaugural SJSU Day of Remembrance was held.
Opening Remarks were delivered by Diana Victa from the Cesar Chavez Community Action Center , 2022-2023 A.S. President Nina Chuang, Councilmember Rosemary Kamei, and SJSU VP Strategy and Institutional Affairs & Chief of Staff Lisa Millora, followed by the reading of a poem by SJSU Alumni Victoria Taketa.
Fireside Chat included special guests Shirley Kuramoto and Former Congressman Mike Honda, who shared their experience in camp and reflections. It was moderated by Edwin Tan and Nina Chuang.
Video Screenings from NOC of previous Day of Remembrance trailers
Activism on Campus: Tommie Smith, John Carlos, and Black Lives Matter (Day of Remembrance trailer)
Alice Hikido - 2021 San Jose Day of Remembrance
Remembrance of Satomi Susie Yasui, a former Japanese American camp inmate and a graduate of SJSU.
Local “New Gen” Panel and Intersections Across Social Issues
Kayla Le, Center for Asian Pacific Islander Student Empowerment
Dominic Treseler, Associated Students
Trustee Jaria Jaug, Berryessa Union School District
Ariana Shah, Afghan Student Association
April 2023
In April 17, with the help and advocacy of our Japantown community leaders, SJSU Asian American Studies professors, and student leaders, we passed a Sense of Senate Resolution. In this Sense of Senate, it formally acknowledges SJSU’s role in the forced removal and incarceration of local Japanese Americans during Executive Order 9066. This proclamation also documents and memorializes individuals at SJSU that faced discrimination, incarceration, and hardship during this time, who leave a legacy of change for future generations in San Jose and beyond.
You can view the resolution here: https://www.sjsu.edu/senate/docs/SS-S23-4.pdf
June 2023
Our first committee meeting, with students, faculty, and Japantown community leaders, took place on Zoom on June 5th, 2023. The committee is comprised of members from the San Jose Japanese Americal Citizens League (JACL), San Jose Nikkei Resisters, Japantown Community Congress, the President's Office, Associated Students SJSU, PRIDE Center, Center for Asian Pacific Islander Student Empowerment (CAPISE), students, and SJSU Asian American Studies. You can view the committee here!