Hist In-Person: Japanese Americans in Colorado

The Japanese American Experience in Colorado
Four In-Person Sessions
Wed., Oct. 9, 16, 23, 30, 2024, 6:30-8:30 pm MT

What has life been like in Colorado for Japanese Americans? This class gets right to the heart of that query, one that not only covers the full range of experiences of Japanese people in the state, but also offers both a larger, international framework and unique interaction with objects related to their history here. Join journalist Gil Asakawa and anthropology professor Bonnie Clark for the complete story from the 19th century to present day. The first class explores the history of Colorado’s Asian population, which includes the anti-Chinese race riot of 1880 in Denver and the arrival of Japanese immigrants. Class two examines the removal and incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II, with a focus on the Colorado confinement center Amache. During class three, participants get an unparalleled first-hand experience by engaging with archaeological objects collected from Amache. The fourth class brings you to the present with an eye on how the Japanese settled in Denver and created a thriving community. The course ends with a poignant reflection on the place of the Japanese community within the larger Asian American Pacific Islander community, including the recent troubling increase in anti-Asian hate crimes. And finally, consider the 2024 addition of Amache to the National Park System.

Gil Asakawa is a journalist, blogger, author and cultural communication consultant. He wrote Being Japanese American, a history of Japanese in the U.S. In 2023, he was recognized by the Emperor of Japan for his work building bridges between Japan and the U.S.

Dr. Bonnie Clark is a professor of anthropology at the University of Denver who leads the DU Amache Project, dedicated to researching, preserving and interpreting the site of Amache, Colorado, where over 10,000 Japanese Americans were incarcerated during World War II.