Ireichō
The Book of Names
For the first time, an accurate and comprehensive list of every person of Japanese ancestry incarcerated in the World War II camps will be compiled in a book called the Ireichō. The idea of a book as a monument is inspired by the Japanese tradition of Kakochō (literally, “The Book of the Past”), a book of names typically placed on a Buddhist temple altar and brought out for memorial services when the names of those to be remembered are chanted.
Following a ceremonial installation on September 24, 2022 at the Japanese American National Museum (JANM), the Ireichō monument will be on display at the museum until December 2024. The public is invited to view and acknowledge the names in the Ireichō by placing a Japanese hanko (stamp) underneath the name of each individual in the book. After the display at JANM is concluded, during 2025-’26, the goal of honoring the 125,000+ names will continue as the Ireichō goes on a national tour until every single individual is acknowledged.
Representatives for the 75 Sites of Wartime Incarceration
*
denotes individual involved in the coordinating or collecting of soil from the incarceration site
[+]
denotes individual not representing the site at the ceremony but involved in coordinating or collecting of soil from the incarceration site
Amache (Granada) Concentration Camp, CO
Minoru Tonai (Amache survivor/Amache Historical Society), John Tonai (Amache descendant/Productions Coordinator, JANM), Ann E. Danis (Director of Field Programs, DU Amache Field School/Cal Poly Pomona), Kara Miyagishima (Acting Superintendent, Amache National Historic Site), Rev. Andy Quient (American Baptist Churches of Los Angeles, Southwest, and Hawai‘i), [+Mitch Homma (President, Amache Alliance)]
Angel Island Immigration Station/Fort McDowell Internment Camp, CA
Laurie Naito (Angel Island descendant), Sam Nakahira (Angel Island descendant), Rev. Takashi Miyaji (Professor, Institute of Buddhist Studies/Minister, Southern Alameda County Buddhist Church), Lisa and Kate Furuta(*), Lee Tatsuguchi (*), Cordelia Kimiyo Tatsuguchi Larson (*)
Bedford Springs Hotel, PA
*Rob Buscher (President, JACL Philadelphia), Rev. Patricia Usuki (San Fernando Valley Hongwanji Buddhist Temple), [+Fumiko Green (JACL Philadelphia)]
Camp Algiers Internment Camp, LA
Victor Nobuo Sudo (Camp Algiers descendant), *Marilyn Miller (Professor, Tulane University/author of Port of No Return: Enemy Alien Internment in WWII New Orleans), Rev. Ryuta Furumoto (resident minister, Senshin Buddhist Temple)
Camp Forrest Internment Camp, TN
Jennifer Kano (Camp Forrest descendant), *Michiko Petersen (retired, Auer U.S.-Japan Center), *Paula Arai (Institute of Buddhist Studies)
Camp Livingston Internment Camp, LA
Midori Nakatani (Livingston descendant), Edward Takahashi, FAIA (Livingston descendant/Koyasan Beikoku Betsuin of Los Angeles/Rohwer-Crystal City survivor), [+Richard Moran (Louisiana Maneuvers and Military Museum), +Sarah Simms/Hayley Johnson (authors of Beneath Heavy Pines: An Understory of Faith, Trial, and Triumph through WWII Internment)]
Camp McCoy Internment Camp, WI
Ron Kuramoto (President, JACL-Wisconsin Chapter), Christine Kuramoto (JACL-Wisconsin Chapter), Rev. Nobuko Miyoshi (West Covina Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple), [+Todd Tsuchiya (Twin Cities Buddhist Sangha/Twin Cities JACL/Midwest Buddhist Temple)]
Camp Upton, NY
Margaret Matsumoto (Camp Upton descendant), Rev. Qalvy Grainzvolt (Shinnyo-en USA Buddhist Order, New York Temple), [+Andrew and Erin Aoyama]
Chicago INS Detention Station, IL
*Lisa Doi (JACL Chicago); *Kenji Kuramitsu (Chicago St. Paul & the Redeemer Episcopal Church/JACL Chicago)
Cow Creek Camp, CA
Stuart Imai (Cow Creek descendant), Patricia Allyn Biggs (Interpretive Ranger, Manzanar National Historic Site), Rev. Deborah Lee (Executive Director, Interfaith Movement for Human Dignity), [+Claudia Katayanagi (filmmaker)]
Crystal City Internment Camp, TX
Florence A. Matano (Crystal City survivor), *Victor Uno (Crystal City Pilgrimage Committee), *Arturo Gonzales (Chair, Zavala County Historical Preservation Society), County Judge Joe Luna (Zavala County, Texas), Rev. Koyu Mori (Soto Zen Buddhism International Center, San Francisco), [+Feliz Benavides (Crystal City Council), +Jose Luis Balderas (Crystal City Council), +Frank Moreno (Mayor, Crystal City)]
East Boston INS Detention Station, MA
*Takeo Rivera (Tsuru for Solidarity Scholars' Council), KC Mukai (Young Buddhist Editorial)
Ellis Island Immigration Building, NY
Daria Miyeko Marinelli (Ellis Island descendant), *Mikoto Yoshida (Irei Monument Project), Rev. Gary Shobo Jaskula (Minister's Assistant, New York Buddhist Church)
Fort Bliss Internment Camp, TX
*Mike Ishii (New York Day of Remembrance/Tsuru for Solidarity), Varun Soni (USC Dean of Religious and Spiritual Life), [+Erin Shigaki (Minidoka Pilgrimage Committee/Tsuru for Solidarity), +Shoshana Arai (Tsuru for Solidarity), +Keiko Kubo (Tsuru for Solidarity), +Lucas Rotman (Tsuru for Solidarity)]
Fort Howard Internment Camp, MD
*Regina H. Boone (Fort Howard descendant), Rev. Kiyonobu Kuwahara (Resident Minister, Berkeley Buddhist Temple and Buddhist Temple of Marin/Director, Jodo Shinshu International Office)
Fort Lewis Internment Camp, WA
*Stephen Kitajo (Minidoka Pilgrimage), Rev. Seigo Takayoshi (Gospel Venture International Church)
Fort Lincoln Internment Camp, ND
*Satsuki Ina (Advisory Committee Member, Snow Country Prison-Japanese American WWII Internment Memorial [Bismarck, North Dakota] Committee/Co-Founder, Tsuru for Solidarity), Brent Kleinjan (College Relations Director, United Tribes Technical College), Chaplain Brenda Threatt (Elder, Grant A.M.E. Church), [*Dennis Neumann, United Tribes Technical College]
Fort Meade Internment Camp, MD
Steve Matsumoto (Fort Meade descendant), *Hoshina Seki (Fort Meade descendant/President, American Buddhist Study Center)
Fort Missoula Internment Camp, MT
*Matt Lautzenheiser (Executive Director, Historical Museum at Fort Missoula), Karen Ishizuka (Fort Missoula descendant, Chief Curator, JANM), Pastor Derek Isao Yee (Fort Missoula descendant/Bethany Congregational Church)
Fort Richardson Internment Camp, AK
Akiko Yamashita (Irei Monument Project), Rev. Greg Kimura (Vice Dean, Grace Cathedral), [+Yuki Moore (University of Alaska)]
Fort Sam Houston Internment Camp, TX
Lise Yasuko Shigenaga-Barker (Fort Sam Houston descendant), Rev. Kazuaki Nakata (Kaikyoshi Minister, Central California Nishi Hongwanji), [+Hal and Matt Appel-Wuertz]
Fort Sill Internment Camp, OK
*Mary Ekemezie (American Indian Movement, Indian Territory), Jody Nakasuji (Fort Sill descendant), Rev. Jiko Nakade (Fort Sill descendant/Kona Daifukuji Soto Mission)
Fort Stanton Internment Camp, NM
*Victor Yamada (New Mexico JACL), Rev. Noriaki Ito (Bishop, Higashi Honganji North America District)
Fresno Assembly Center, CA
*Patricia Wakida (Fresno descendant/ Yonsei Memory Project), Rev. Wayne Ogimachi (Fresno descendant/retired, Lighthouse Christian Church), [+Hon. Dale Ikeda (Fresno JACL)]
Gila River Concentration Camp, AZ
Koji Lau-Ozawa (Gila River descendant/Stanford University), Rev. Brian Kensho Nagata (Gila River descendant/Buddhist Church of Fowler), [+Bill Staples, Jr. (President, Arizona JACL), +Japanese American National Museum]
Greenbrier Hotel (White Sulphur Springs), WV
Ana Iwataki, Dr. Lois M. Sprague, Ph.D. (President, Guibord Center: Religion Inside Out), [+Gabe Wise; +Lane Haugh]
Griffith Park Detention Camp, CA
Sigrid B. Toye (Griffith Park descendant), Cheryl Tsuyuki (Tuna Canyon-Griffith Park descendant/Konko Church of Los Angeles), [+Kyoko Nancy Oda (President, Tuna Canyon Detention Station Coalition)]
Grove Park Inn, NC
Ken Nakazawa (Grove Park descendant), Rev. Doshin Johnson (Zenshuji Soto Zen Mission), [+Andy Mayer; +Edward Peters]
Haiku Camp Detention Station, (Maui) HI
Ruth Hamanaka (Haiku Camp descendant), Melanie Agrabante (Nisei Veterans Memorial Center), Rev. Shinkai Murakami (Resident Minister, Wailuku Hongwanji Mission), [+Kyle Watanabe (Nisei Veterans Memorial Center), +Charlene Doi (Nisei Veterans Memorial Center), +Leroy Onishi, +Deidre Tegarden (Nisei Veterans Memorial Center)]
Heart Mountain Concentration Camp, WY
Bunny Ogimachi (Heart Mountain survivor), *Aura Sunada Newlin (Heart Mountain descendant/Interim Executive Director, Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation), Harold Hill (Apsáalooke/Crow Tobacco Society Member and Pipelighter for Return to Foretop's Father, 2022), [+Dr. Cally Steussy (Museum Manager, Heart Mountain Interpretive Center)]
Hillcrest Sanitarium, CA
Norman Paul Ishimoto (Hillcrest descendant), Janis Hirohama (Minister's Assistant, Orange County Buddhist Church), [+Sharon Yamato (writer/filmmaker), +Isabel Lawler (Historical Society of the Crescenta Valley)]
The Homestead, (Hot Springs) VA
*Emma Tamayo Ito, Rev. Mariko Yanagihara (Presbytery of San Gabriel)
Honolulu INS Administration Building, (Oahu) HI
*George Tanabe (Professor Emeritus, University of Hawai‘i /President, BDK Hawai‘i), Rev. Shuji Komagata (Honolulu INS descendant; Resident Minister, Soto Mission of Aiea Taiheiji)
Honouliuli Internment Camp (Oahu), HI
Sandi Chang (Honouliuli descendant), Brenda Saifuku Yospe (Honouliuli descendant), Hanako Wakatsuki (Superintendent, Honouliuli National Historic Site), Rev. Todd Zenji Takahashi (Honouliuli descendant/Head Minister, Konko Church of San Diego), [+Nate Gyotoku (President and Executive Director, Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i), +George Tanabe (Professor Emeritus, University of Hawai‘i /President, BDK Hawai‘i), +Audrey Muromoto, +Kahu Kordell Kekoa]
Jerome Concentration Camp, AR
Kanji Sahara (Jerome survivor/founder, WWII Camp Wall), Karen Kano (Jerome descendant/Irei Monument Project), Rev. Patti Nakai (Jerome descendant/Resident Minister, Buddhist Temple of Chicago), [+Jeff Owyoung (Mayor of McGehee, Arkansas)]
Kalaheo Stockade, (Kauai) HI
Lance Marugame (Kalaheo descendant), Nan Sakaguchi (Kalaheo descendant), Rev. Hiroshi Miyoshi (Zenshuji Soto Zen Mission/Kauai Soto Zen Temple Zenshuji), [+Sasily U'ilani Corr-Yorkman]
Kenedy Internment Camp, TX
Bekki Shibayama (Kenedy descendant/Campaign for Justice: Redress Now for Japanese Latin Americans), Rev. Myokei Caine-Barrett, Shonin (Bishop, Nichiren Shu Order of North America), [+Shannon Takushi (USC Ito Center), +Matt Appel-Wuertz]
Kilauea Military Camp, (Big Island) HI
Gail Y. Okawa (Kilauea descendant/author of Remembering Our Grandfather's Exile: US Imprisonment of Hawai‘i's Japanese in World War II), Rev. Blayne Higa (Resident Minister, Kona Hongwanji Buddhist Temple), [+Kyoko Nancy Oda (President, Tuna Canyon Detention Station Coalition)]
Kooskia Internment Camp, ID
Gary Imanishi (Kooskia descendant/Cascade Kendo Kai), Dr. Priscilla Wegars (author of Imprisoned in Paradise: Japanese Internee Road Workers at the World War II Kooskia Internment Camp), Rev. Marvin Harada (Minidoka/Tule Lake descendant/Bishop, Buddhist Churches of America), [+LouAnn McCune]
Leupp Isolation Center, AZ
Martha Nakagawa (Leupp descendant), Rev. Shoda Douglas Kanai (Nichiren Buddhist Kannon Temple of Nevada), [+Claudia Katayanagi (filmmaker)]
Lordsburg Internment Camp, NM
Hiromi Yamashita (Lordsburg descendant and Heart Mountain survivor), *Mollie Pressler (author of Camp Lordsburg), Rev. Tommy Dyo (Lordsburg descendant/Executive Director, Epic Movement at Cru)
Manzanar Concentration Camp, CA
Patricia (Morikawa) Sakamoto (Manzanar survivor), Bruce Embrey (Co-Chair, Manzanar Committee), Rev. Steven Toyoshima (Manzanar descendant/Higashi Hongwanji Mission of Hawai‘i), Brenda Ling (Superintendent, Manzanar National Historic Site), [+Alisa Lynch (Chief of Interpretation, Manzanar National Historic Site)]
Marysville (Arboga) Assembly Center, CA
*Hiroshi Kashiwagi (Marysville/Arboga descendant), *Lorna M. Fong (Marysville/Arboga descendant), Rev. Dr. Ken Uyeda Fong (Evergreen Baptist Church of Los Angeles, retired)
Mayer Assembly Center, AZ
Lesli Hirokawa (Mayer descendant), Rev. Jim Miyabe (Poston descendant), [+Phyllis Holmes, Mayers Foothills Riding Stables]
Merced Assembly Center, CA
Ann Masuda Yamano (Merced descendant), Rev. Dr. Kenji Akahoshi (Merced survivor/retired, Buddhist Temple of San Diego), [+Patti Kishi (Merced Assembly Center Memorial Committee)]
Minidoka Concentration Camp, ID
Fujiko Tamura Gardner (Minidoka survivor), *Kurt Ikeda (Director of Interpretation and Education, Minidoka National Historic Site), Robyn Achilles (Executive Director, Friends of Minidoka), Rev. Brooks Andrews (retired, Japanese Baptist Church, Seattle)
Moab Isolation Center, UT
*Claudia Katayanagi (filmmaker), Rev. Ko'e Umezu (Assistant Minister, West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple)
Montreat Assembly Inn, NC
Brian Niiya (Montreat descendent/Content Director, Densho), Rev. Dr. Michelle Baker-Wright (St. James' Episcopal Church, South Pasadena), [+Andy Mayer, +Corey Jones, +Vanessa Haugh (USC Ito Center)]
Nyssa Tent Camp, OR
Melissa Bailey Nihei (Nyssa descendant), Rev. Ron Kobata (Nyssa descendant/retired, Buddhist Churches of America), [+Howard Matsumura (Snake River JACL)]
Old Raton Ranch Internment Camp/Baca Camp, NM
Fred Kimura (Old Raton Ranch/Baca Camp survivor), Rev. Dokan Kojima (Soto Zen Buddhism North America Office, Los Angeles), [+Victor Yamada (Special Event Coordinator, New Mexico JACL)]
Owens Valley Reception Center, CA
Bob Miyatake (Owens Valley survivor), *Alisa Lynch (Team Lead for Interpretation and Visitor Services, Manzanar National Historic Site), Sister Joanne Jaruko Doi (Manzanar descendant/Maryknoll Sisters/Catholic Theological Union)
Parker Dam Reception Center, CA
Sharon Yamato (Parker Dam descendant/writer and filmmaker), Rev. Kerry Kiyohara (Parker Dam descendant/Resident Minister, Makawao Hongwanji Mission), [+Marlene Shigekawa (Poston Community Alliance), +Jon Villalobos (Colorado River Indian Tribes - Navajo)]
Pinedale Assembly Center, CA
*Hon. Dale Ikeda (Pinedale Assembly Center Memorial Committee), Rev. Shumyo Kojima (Abbot, Zenshuji Soto Mission), [+Patricia Wakida (Yonsei Memory Project)]
Pomona Assembly Center, CA
*Bacon Sakatani (Pomona Assembly Center Committee), Rev. Grant Hagiya (Gila River descendant/Bishop, California-Pacific and Desert Southwest Annual Conferences of the United Methodist Church)
Portland Assembly Center, OR
*Chisao Hata, (Creative Director, Living Arts Program, Japanese American Museum of Oregon), Rev. George Kosho Finch (Portland Henjyoji Shingon Buddhist Temple), [+Mark Takiguchi (Deputy Director, Japanese American Museum of Oregon)]
Poston Concentration Camp, AZ
*Marlene Shigekawa (President, Poston Community Alliance) *Jon Villalobos (Colorado River Indian Tribes - Navajo), Rev. Mark Nakagawa (Poston descendant/West District Superintendent, California-Pacific Conference, The United Methodist Church), Colleen Hayashi (Poston Community Alliance)
Puyallup Assembly Center, WA
*Sharon Sobie-Seymour (Puyallup descendant/Puyallup Valley Chapter, JACL), Erin Shigaki (Puyallup descendant/Minidoka Pilgrimage Committee/Tsuru for Solidarity), Rev. Gyokei Yokoyama (Long Beach Buddhist Church/Montebello Sozenji Buddhist Temple)
Rohwer Concentration Camp, AR
Ron Wakabayashi (Rohwer descendant/JACL National Director, 1981-88), *Jeff Owyoung (Mayor of McGehee, Arkansas), Rev. Patti Oshita (Rohwer descendant/retired, Buddhist Church of Sacramento)
Sacramento (Walerga) Assembly Center, CA
Sachiko Louie (Sacramento/Walerga camp survivor), Brent Louie (Sacramento/Walerga descendant), Rev. Bob Oshita (retired Rinban, Buddhist Church of Sacramento), [+Hiroshi Kashiwagi (Marysville/Arboga descendant), +Lorna M. Fong (Marysville/Arboga descendant), +Andy Noguchi (Florin Chapter, JACL), +Kenji Taguma (President, Nichi Bei Foundation/Editor-in-Chief, Nichi Bei Weekly)]
Salinas Assembly Center, CA
*Victor Kimura (Treasurer, Watsonville-Santa Cruz JACL/Secretary-Treasurer, National JACL), Devon Matsumoto (Salinas descendant/Co-founder, The Young Buddhist Editorial), [+Carol Kaneko (Watsonville-Santa Cruz Chapter, JACL), +Nicole Sintetos]
San Francisco INS Detention Station, CA
Helen Sasaki (Rohwer survivor), *Julie Yumi Hatta (Crystal City descendant/Buddhist Church of San Francisco)
San Pedro INS Detention Station, CA
John Hasegawa (San Pedro descendant/Irei Monument Project), Rev. Richard E. Chuman (Executive Director, Japanese Evangelical Missionary Society), [+Shannon Takushi (USC Ito Center)]
Sand Island Internment Camp, (Oahu) HI
Krist Ishikawa Jessup (Sand Island descendant/Communications and Marketing Manager, Heart Mountain Interpretive Center), Rev. Edna Matsuoka (Minister, Konko Mission of Wahiawa), [+George Tanabe (Professor Emeritus, University of Hawai‘i /President, BDK Hawai‘i), +Bishop Eric Matsumoto (Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawai‘i)]
Santa Anita Assembly Center, CA
*June Aochi Berk (Santa Anita survivor/President, Santa Anita Committee), Rev. Steven Toshio Yamaguchi (Santa Anita descendant/Pastor, Tokyo Union Church), [+Yas Aochi (Santa Anita Committee)]
Santa Fe Internment Camp, NM
Nikki Nojima Louis (Santa Fe descendant/Minidoka survivor, New Mexico JACL), *Shelley Takeuchi (New Mexico JACL), Rev. Yuju Matsumoto (Bishop, Koyasan Beikoku Betsuin of Los Angeles)
Seagoville Internment Camp, TX
Mitch Homma (Seagoville descendant/President, Amache Alliance), Rev. Priscilla Eppinger (Executive Director, American Baptist Historical Society), [+Christopher Sean Hepburn (USC Ito Center), +Kristi Ciolli (Warden, Federal Correctional Institution, Seagoville)]
Seattle US Immigrant Station and Assay Office, WA
*Stan Shikuma (Tsuru for Solidarity/President, Seattle JACL), Sherman Jackson (King Faisal Chair of Islamic Thought and Culture, USC), Rev. Kevin Yi (Church Everyday)
Sharp Park Detention Station, CA
Saburo Fukuda (Sharp Park descendant/Topaz-Crystal City survivor), *Nancy Ukai (50 Objects/Stories), Rev. Joanne Tolosa (Head Minister, Konko Church of San Francisco)
Stockton Assembly Center, CA
*Jennifer Fujii Lounibos (Stockton descendant), Darryl Yagi (Tule Lake-Topaz survivor, Minister's Assistant, Sebastopol Enmanji Buddhist Temple), Neil Tetsu Gotanda (Stockton descendant/Stockton Buddhist Church), [+Haruka Roudebush (Vice-Governor, JACL NCWNP District/San Francisco Chapter, JACL), +Steven Sue (President, Stockton Chapter, JACL)]
Tanforan Assembly Center, CA
*Robbin Kawabata (Tanforan descendant/Tanforan Assembly Center Memorial Committee), Chaplain Madeline Reiko Nobori Tom (Tanforan descendant/Topaz survivor), [+Steve Okamoto (Tanforan survivor/Tanforan Assembly Center Memorial Committee)]
Topaz Concentration Camp, UT
Hiroshi Fukuda (Topaz-Crystal City survivor), Rev. Michael Yoshii (Topaz descendant/retired clergy, California Nevada United Methodist Church/Co-Chair, Friends of Wadi Foquin), [+Kimiko Marr (Topaz descendant/Japanese American Memorial Pilgrimages), +Jane Beckwith (President of Board, Topaz Museum)]
Tulare Assembly Center, CA
Naomi Dyo Wagner (Tulare descendant), Mardy Maehara (Tulare descendant), Rev. Wendy S. Tajima (Tulare descendant/Presbytery of San Gabriel), [+Michaelpaul Mendoza (teacher, Mission Oak High School, Tulare)]
Tule Lake Concentration Camp, CA
Hiroshi Shimizu (President, Tule Lake Committee), *Barbara Takei (Tule Lake Committee), Rev. LaVerne Sasaki (Tule Lake survivor/Buddhist Church of San Francisco (retired)), [+Jim and Akimi King (Tule Lake descendant)]
Tuna Canyon Detention Station, CA
*Kyoko Nancy Oda (President, Tuna Canyon Detention Station Coalition), Rev. Paul Iwata (Sunrise Japanese Foursquare Church)
Turlock Assembly Center, CA
Julie Morimoto (Turlock descendant), Rev. Ryoko Miyazaki (Soto Zen Buddhism International Center, Los Angeles), [+Gordon and Kathryn Morimoto (Turlock descendants)]