Day of Remembrance Community Map Project by Yoko Oji Kikuchi:

This project is in honor of Day of Remembrance on February 19th, which marks the day in 1942 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, giving the U.S. Army the authority to forcibly remove and incarcerate Americans of Japanese ancestry residing on the West Coast during WWII. Every February, the Japanese American community commemorates Executive Order 9066 as a reminder of the impact the incarceration experience has had on their families, community, and our country. It is an opportunity to educate others on the fragility of civil liberties in times of crisis, and the importance of remaining vigilant in protecting the rights and freedoms of all.

OACC has commissioned Yoko Oji Kikuchi to create a map of Oakland that highlights the vibrant pre-WWII Japanese American community residing in Oakland prior to their detention, including Japanese American businesses, art and cultural sites, and community centers. Be sure to pick up a copy of the community map at OACC during our business hours!

This project is funded through the California State Library Civil Liberties Grant.

Day of Remembrance Community Map Opening Reception:

On Saturday, February 18th, 12pm-2pm PT, OACC held an opening reception of our Day of Remembrance Community Map Project  featuring a performance from Emeryville Taiko and a community panel with Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo, Jun Hamamoto, and Yoko Oji Kikuchi about the role of art, memory, and place in the movement for civil rights.

About the Panelists:

Day of Remembrance Community Map Walking Tour:

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Thank you so much to Yoko Oji-Kikuchi and Roy Chan for guiding OACC staff and board members on an incredible tour of Oakland Chinatown using our Day of Remembrance Community Map of Oakland (designed by Yoko Oji-Kikuchi).

On July 31, 2023, we visited several important Japanese American historical and cultural sites that existed in Oakland prior to JA detention during WWII. We continue to remember the vibrancy of the Japanese American community that once existed here and all their contributions. Their stories will not be forgotten!