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A grassroots organization dedicated to preserving, educating, and sharing the story of World War II-era incarceration of Japanese Americans in order to deepen understandings of American history and inspire action for equity.

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A comprehensive reference tool with nearly 1,000 free and accessible entries related to the World War II incarceration of Japanese Americans.

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Oral history interviews, photos, newspapers, and other primary sources that document the Japanese American experience from immigration through redress with a strong focus on the World War II mass incarceration.

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Online education center featuring multidisciplinary curriculum, instructional guides, and primary source material that allow teachers and students to connect with the lived experiences of Japanese Americans.

JAPANESE AMERICAN WWII INCARCERATION: THE CORE STORY

Learn the basics about World War II Japanese American incarceration through a series of short videos and essays.

The Core Story

Oral History Spotlight

Jim Matsuoka talks about organizing a special mochitsuki event to serve elderly Issei threatened by redevelopment in Little Tokyo.

See More Videos

Blog

Stay connected with Densho through regular posts, guest contributions, and photo essays that put our work and the story of WWII incarceration in conversation with current events.

Recent News

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    Japanese American Artists Behind Barbed Wire

    • January 16, 2019
    • art

    Following the forced exile from the West Coast under Executive Order 9066, many incarcerated Japanese Americans turned to art as a way to cope with their harsh prison environment. Stripped of the routines that had filled their pre-war lives, inmates picked up creative hobbies to while away the idle hours of confinement, and painting and drawing soon became popular pastimes.

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    Densho’s Artist-in-Residence Program

    Densho is first and foremost a history organization but as we have gotten more vocal about today’s political climate, we’ve become more acutely aware of the fact that art can help us get our messages out to a wider audience. That’s why we were thrilled to launch a new Artists-in-Residence program in 2018. 

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