SJSU Day of Remembrance
Wednesday, February 19th, 10:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Diaz Compean Student Union Theater at San José State University
Free and Open to the San Jose Community!
Join the San José State University (SJSU)’s Day of Remembrance on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at the SJSU Student Union Theater. This annual event commemorates the signing of Executive Order 9066, which led to the forced incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II. It is a moment for reflection, remembrance, and renewed commitment to justice and community.
In 1942, the building currently known as Yoshihiro Uchida Hall on SJSU's campus served as a registration center for local Japanese Americans prior to them being forcibly removed to incarceration camps.
2025 Day of Remembrance Schedule
COFFEE & PASTRIES (10:00 AM - 10:30 AM) Student Union Theater Courtyard
PLENARY Session: Leadership and Taiko Beats (10:30 AM - 11:30 AM) Student Union Theater
The plenary session will open with a powerful San Jose Taiko performance, setting the stage for an inspiring program.
- Emcee: Mike Inouye
- SJSU Speakers: President Cynthia Teniente-Matson (video), Chief Diversity Officer Kristen Dukes, Provost Vincent Del-Casino, Assistant Director Nina Chuang
LIGHT LUNCH (11:30 AM - 12:15 PM) Student Union Theater Courtyard
BREAKOUT Sessions (12:15 PM - 1:30 PM)
After the plenary, we encourage you to participate in one of these engaging discussions:
Breakout Session #1: Building Community: Leadership, Legacy, and Cultivating the Next Generation - Student Union Theater
- Moderator: Dr. Yvonne Kwan, SJSU Asian American Studies
- Panelists: Jen Masuda, Wisa Uemura, Vanessa Hatakeyama
This session features three Japanese American women leaders—executive directors of key San Jose Japantown organizations—discussing the importance of intentional leadership, trust-building, and sustaining community spaces for future generations.
Breakout Session #2: Building Bridges: The Role of Intergenerational Dialogue in Healing and Advocacy - Student Union, Meeting Room 3 (Second Floor)
- Moderator: Mayor Ellen Kamei, Mountain View
- Panelists: Tom Izu, Dan Kubo, Chris Kubo, Kendal Hearney, and Antonio Kobe Lopez
This session highlights how intergenerational dialogue fosters healing, activism, and education. Panelists will explore how past experiences shape future advocacy and how initiatives like the Never Again is Now! Mural Project connect history to the present.
Breakout Session #3: Legacies: Dance, Remembrance, and Resilience - Student Union, Meeting Room 4 (Second Floor)
- Speaker: Yayoi Kambara, KAMBARA+
Artist and choreographer Yayoi Kambara will present 二度と (NI DO TO), an XR pilgrimage inspired by IKKAI means once: a transplanted pilgrimage. This session explores the intersection of dance, history, and personal storytelling as a means of preserving community resilience.
FOR MORE DETAILS: visit SJSU Day of Remembrance.
