iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Densho will be in Minnesota next weekend for our next Community Scanning Day!

Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

On the eve of our 30th Anniversary Gala, we are featuring an oral history interview clip from Densho’s Founder, Tom Ikeda. As a chemist and former engineer, he reflects on how hearing personal stories encouraged him to see the world in a more nuanced light.

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Densho's historical content team is growing! Meet the newest hires, Lisa Doi, Curator of Public History, and Jonathan van Harmelen, Editorial Manager and Staff Historian, in this Q&A!

"Q&A with Lisa" with a circular portrait of Lisa Doi. Question: "What will you be working on in your first few months here?" Lisa answers that she's excited to take over projects like Sites of Shame and Manzanar CloseUp and to build new public programs that make Densho's preserved materials and documented history more accessible. Two screenshots at the bottom show the interactive Sites of Shame map of the U.S. with filter menus, and the Manzanar CloseUp camp layout with a population-over-time graph.

"Q&A with Lisa." Question: "What's a piece of history or a story that's stuck with you?" Lisa explains she became interested in Japanese American history after finding a photo of her great-grandmother, who died while incarcerated at Rohwer. By the time Lisa saw the photo, everyone who knew her had also passed away. She says the photograph captures what many Japanese Americans seek: a better understanding of their family, community, and themselves. A sepia-toned historical photograph is captioned "Lisa's great-grandmother."

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

“He said he’s not going to be here, so we have no father. So I have to take the role of father of the family.”

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Today, we remember the national tragedy of September 11, 2001, and honor the memory of all those who lost their lives.

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

If you are an educator or curriculum developer, we invite you to be one of the first to see Densho’s new Education Framework: Ten Guidelines for Teaching about Japanese American Wartime Incarceration on Wednesday September 8th from 4:00 – 5:00 pm PT

Densho branded graphic showing a young Japanese American girl looking off to the side. A guard tower can be seen in the distance. The words “How do we teach the Japanese American incarceration?” And Introducing the Densho Educational Framework” are overlaid on the graphic.

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

For this month’s installment of Densho Staff’s 30 Favorite Objects, Archivist Micah Merryman chose this archival photograph of marionettes set against a backdrop for a puppet show.

Black-and-white archival photo of a lineup of marionette puppets on a stage, strings visible overhead. From left to right: a turtle or tortoise, a girl in a dark skirt, a figure in a striped shirt with cat-like features, a coiled snake, and a fluffy rabbit with large upright ears. A painted desert backdrop with a sun and cacti sits behind them, and bare ground is visible in the foreground.

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Calling all educators! Join the National Constitution Center, UCLA Asian American Studies, and Densho for “Federalism in Action: Teaching Japanese American Incarceration During World War II.”

Black-and-white historical photo of four young children standing in a line outdoors, hands over their hearts. Text below reads: “Join the National Constitution Center, the UCLA Asian American Studies Center, and Densho for a full-day professional development workshop exploring the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II through the lens of federalism and the Constitution.”

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

“And looking at that document, I still remember vividly thinking, ‘Oh, my God. This is amazing. This is like a smoking gun.’”

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

In what ways has Densho impacted you? Has a member of your family contributed their story to Densho? Is there a staff or board member who left a lasting impression? Consider sharing your reflections in a Densho Anniversary Card at densho.org/30th-anniver...!

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

We are excited to invite you to Densho’s 30th Anniversary Gala. Join us in Seattle on September 26, 2026, 5:00–9:00 PM at the historic Sunset Club.

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

For this installment of 30 Stories for 30 Years, we are sharing a segment from Yoshimi Matsuura’s oral history interview where he recalls facing racism and housing discrimination when resettling in Minneapolis, Minnesota after being released from Gila River.

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Thank you to KPBS San Diego and Midday Edition for inviting our Executive Director Naomi Ostwald Kawamura to this vital discussion on the links between the WWII incarceration and current immigration policies and detention we are seeing today. Listen here: www.kpbs.org/podcasts/kpb...

kpbs.org

What WWII Japanese American incarceration reveals about Trump immigration crackdown

More than 120,000 Japanese Americans were detained and incarcerated during World War II without due process. We discuss the parallels between that period and present-day immigration enforcement, and w...

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

If you’re local in San Diego, tune in to @kpbssandiego.bsky.social Midday Edition today at 12PM to hear Densho’s Executive Director Naomi Ostwald Kawamura speak on the links between the incarceration and today’s immigration and detention policies. Full episode will be shared after the segment airs.

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

For this month’s installment of Densho Staff’s 30 Favorite Objects, Communications Manager Diana Tsuchida shared one object that isn’t her “favorite” but one that she always revisits and is particularly impactful for her.

Black-and-white archival photo from March 30, 1942, on Bainbridge Island. A large white dog stands on its hind legs on a suitcase, front paws raised toward a man and woman seated in the back of an open canvas-covered Army truck, as if saying goodbye. The man wears a hat and dark overcoat; the woman wears a dark coat with a fur collar. A soldier in uniform stands to the left, watching. The scene depicts the Moji family's forced departure during the WWII removal of Japanese Americans.

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Densho opposes the recently announced plans to close National Archives facilities in Chicago and San Bruno. Densho Archives Director Caitlin Oiye Coon, who visited the San Bruno facility in California to scan and archive material, explains why.

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Herded like animals by military police with their guns and billy clubs, Dennis Bambauer remembers getting on a bus in Los Angeles that took him and other orphans to Manzanar Children’s Village – the only orphanage in all of the ten camps.

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

At the end of June, community activist, educator, and Densho oral history narrator, Ikuko “Iku” Kiriyama, passed away. We are feeling her loss in many ways, as she was instrumental in many community organizations, namely the Japanese American Historical Society of Southern California (JAHSSC).

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Today, we’re celebrating what would have been Arnold Maeda’s 100th birthday and his contributions to the Japanese American community.

Same archival photo as previous slide. Text overlay: “To learn more about Arnold Maeda and his contributions to the community, read our ‘Nisei Notables’ article on the Densho Catalyst at densho.org/catalyst.”

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

In honor of this significant Fourth of July, we are exploring some pivotal moments and decisions made behind barbed wire that highlight resistance and challenges to the U.S. government.

Densho branded graphic with depicting a barrack, American flag and a mountain range in the background. In large font it reads, Americanism and Resistance and in smaller font the graphic reads, Reflections on how Japanese Americans responded to the injustice of WWII incarceration and claimed their identity, rights, and belonging as Americans in the United States

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Obon season is currently underway at Buddhist temples across the country, where taiko performances are a common feature of the festivities.

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

For June’s installment of Densho Staff’s 30 Favorite Objects series, we are highlighting a letter that, on the surface, reminds us of summer.

A censored letter dated July 15, 1945, from Guntaro Kubota to Mrs. Gloria Kubota at Heart Mountain, Wyoming (barrack 30-18-E), bearing a red "CENSORED" stamp. The handwritten text in blue ink reads: “Dear Gloria and Makiko, I am very sorry to Makiko. Last time I was [to] send [a] picture for Hidemaro’s birthday. I know Maki [wanted one], too but I was very busy to draw [a] picture." The lower two-thirds of the letter features a watercolor illustration of a young curly-haired child in red swim trunks standing on a beach, holding a yellow shovel beside a blue bucket, with a red shape in the sand, a small turtle nearby, and a serene coastal landscape with water, hills, and a small sailboat in the background.

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

In the fourteenth installment of 30 Stories for 30 Years, Yukiko Miyake recalls a memory of when she was sick in Minidoka, and an Issei woman brought her otsukemono (pickled vegetables).

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

We are excited to welcome Diana Tsuchida as Densho’s new Communications Manager!

Diana Tsuchida is smiling in a portrait photo where she is centered. She is wearing a silver hoop earring that goes through a tiny hole in the center of a small, white disk. She is also wearing a rust-colored blouse with a white flower design. The background is blurred-out greenery.

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

Known for expanding the boundaries of art in the decades after World War II, Satoru Abe is someone we want to celebrate today on what would’ve been his 100th birthday.

Densho branded graphic, text in the top left-hand corner reads: "Happy 100th Birthday Satoru Abe". Portrait photo of Satoru Abe in an art gallery that has white walls with various artworks hanging. The background is faded slightly with a navy hue.

Image of Satoru Abe's "Two Figures in the Forest" metal sculpture. Text at the top reads, "'Two Figures in the Forest' by Satoru Abe. Photo courtesy of the Honolulu Museum of Art"

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

As the World Cup starts today across North America, we wanted to take note of the power of sports to unify people across the world, even during times of global uncertainty.

Black-and-white photo of a young Nisei boy crouching in a backyard, holding a round ball with both hands. He wears a dark long-sleeve sweater over a collared shirt and shorts. Residential houses and utility poles are visible in the background.

Black-and-white photo of a group of Japanese American men playing football on a large dirt field. Mountains are visible in the background, along with barracks. Players are mid-action, running and tackling.

Black-and-white photo of six smiling Japanese American women in white shirts, gathered together and gripping a baseball bat in a classic "pick teams" hand-over-hand stacking pose. Barracks are faintly visible in the background.

Black-and-white photo of a young Japanese American man in full baseball catcher's gear — chest protector, shin guards, and mitt — looking into the distance. He stands on an open dirt field with barracks visible in the distant background.

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

“And we talked about the long-term effects of the internment, but the pilgrimage really offers a place of healing, a place of solitude. Because it is, my gosh, a desolate place. And we spent a portion of our life, however brief, in that place. And the toll that it took is incalculable.”

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

“Historic sites must be accessible. And it is important to acknowledge that they weren’t at the time, and in many cases took a long time to become accessible, or continue to be inaccessible.”

Densho-branded title graphic with the heading "Importance of Accessibility at Historic Sites." Background photo shows a wooden accessibility ramp with metal railings at a historic site, with snow-capped mountains and a cloudy sky behind. A text box reads: "Densho Catalyst guest writer Selena Moon explores how many historic sites are still not fully accessible and what can be done today."

Densho-branded graphic with text over a faded outdoor background. Text reads: "Historian and PhD student Selena Moon explores the importance of accessibility at historic sites, highlighting how many sites have been & continue to be inaccessible. She explains how accessibility is often one of the last considerations at historic and other sites. And if a site has accessibility, it is often limited, excluding people with various disabilities. Selena reminds us that it is important to create spaces where everyone feels and is included, and that everyone deserves access to culture and history, especially their own."

Densho-branded graphic featuring a pull quote from Selena Moon: "As a person with low vision, I have found that many locations, exhibits, and presentations are inaccessible, including dark interiors, small text and inaccessible fonts, lack of contrast, not being able to get close to exhibits or text, and lack of accessible materials." Below the quote is a photograph of a large outdoor interpretive sign titled "Setsuko Saito Higuchi Memorial Walking Tour," which includes both printed text and braille. A caption reads "Heart Mountain Braille Sign."

Densho-branded graphic with a pull quote from Selena Moon over a faded image of the wooden accessibility ramp at a historic site with mountains visible. Quote reads: "Historically, the world was inaccessible to disabled people in many ways, from lacking ramps or seating, sign language interpreters or subtitles, braille or large print, or having over-stimulating environments. It is important to acknowledge that disabled people were excluded from many locations, including because of lack of accommodations and accessibility. But it is also important to show how things have changed as people became more aware of and attuned to various needs, thereby decreasing these barriers."

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Dr. Satsuki Ina is a licensed psychotherapist specializing in community trauma, author of “The Poet and the Silk Girl” (2024), and cofounder of Tsuru for Solidarity.

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

For this installment of Densho Staff’s 30 Favorite Objects series, we are highlighting two objects that hold special meaning for two of our staff members.

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

On this Memorial Day, we want to share an oral history interview of decorated World War II veteran and member of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, Fred Shiosaki, describing the rescue of the "Lost Battalion” in World War II.

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

We are heartbroken by the passing of Kyoko Nancy Oda, a giant in the Nikkei community and one of our oral history narrators.

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

“[Author Karen Tei] Yamashita provides a lot of answers, but she also leaves a lot unknown, because it is impossible to know everything.” – Amber Hisatomi

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

This past February, Densho completed a major milestone with the completion of the Loni Ding Oral History and Film Research Collection grant project.

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Save the date and join Densho for a zine-making workshop at the Seattle Public Library, part of their programming for One Book, One Coast.

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

As Densho celebrates its 30th anniversary, we wanted to speak with the person who helped start it all: founding executive director Tom Ikeda.

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

In honor of Densho’s 30th anniversary, we wanted to share a special message from our staff. These are 30 words reflecting our mission and symbolically representing our 30 years of existence. This statement captures our commitment to the past, present, and future.

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Today, we’re celebrating what would’ve been Mervyn Dymally’s 100th birthday and his contributions to the Japanese American community.

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

Today, we’re celebrating what would have been Bruce Kaji’s 100th birthday. We remember him for his contributions to the Japanese American community, particularly co-founding the Japanese American National Museum and serving as its initial board president.

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

“I remember breaking down and crying. I couldn't explain to her why I had given up that name and how because I had recently regained my feeling of pride and everything, I didn't want to use it because it was special now.”

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

We are excited to announce our new Artist-in-Residence, Seraphim Hong!

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Densho Oral History Program Manager Virginia Yamada describes the importance of documenting present-day voices and experiences as we live through historically significant and unprecedented events that demand critical attention and documentation.

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

Dear Teachers, thank you for all your hard work, dedication, and perseverance. In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, Densho staff wanted to write personal messages conveying our deep respect and appreciation of your work.

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

“Where did I, a young Asian girl, fit into our American history?”

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

“One of the hardest parts of grief is the seeming isolation that many folks experience. Writing and publishing this book has taught me that community can carry us through.” – Tamiko Nimura

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

From mountain trails to coastal shorelines to desolate Tule Lake, this installment of our 30 Objects for 30 Years series reflects moments of connection with nature.

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

Right now, we are living through a historically significant and unprecedented moment — one that demands critical attention and documentation.

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Densho @denshoproject.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

“If I couldn’t accept curfew, how could I accept this? … I couldn’t, I can’t accept it. It’s worse.”

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