Santa Monica Mosaic: Nisei Memories

The second season of the Santa Monica Mosaic webinar series begins with reflections on Santa Monica’s historic Japanese community. Nisei Memories will feature the storytelling of Dr. Dennis Ogawa, a professor of Japanese American studies at the University of Hawaii, who was born at the Manzanar War Relocation Center in the Owens Valley and grew up in Santa Monica.

Dr. Ogawa will tell of his father’s determination to return his family to the city after more than three years of internment — no matter what the challenges might be. Learn of the Ogawas’ struggles – and fond memories, too – as they sought to assimilate back into Santa Monica life amid a postwar housing shortage and lingering mistrust by their fellow Americans.

Preceding Dr. Ogawa’s presentation will be a historic overview of the Japanese community in Santa Monica by Mosaic’s moderator and historian, Libby Motika. Accompanied by vintage imagery, Motika will take us back to the early 1900s, when the first Japanese immigrants established a thriving fishing village in Santa Monica Canyon, then expanded into other areas of local commerce as the 20th century progressed. This included an emphasis on community pride and sociability, as evidenced by the midcentury Nikkei Hall, still standing in the Pico District.

This event is free for members and $10 for the general public. Become a member or donate $45 or more and you’ll receive a one-year membership and free admission to this and future Mosaic lectures.

Dennis Ogawa received his Ph.D. from UCLA in 1969 where he was honored as one of the founders of the UCLA Asian American Studies Center. He is a professor and former Chair at the University of Hawaii, American Studies Department and his teaching and research interests are in the area of Japanese American Studies, Television and Ethnic Identity, and Multicultural Studies. He has also served as a visiting profess or at the Gakushuin University, Japan. Dr. Ogawa’s books — a number of which are best sellers for the University of Hawaii Press — include JanKenPo: The World of Hawai’i’s Japanese Americans and The First Nisei. Among his many honors are the Imperial Decoration Order of the Rising Sun and the Consulate General of Japan Commendation Award.

 

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