Sept. 9, 7:00 pm, Zoom
On March 24, 1932, Vashon Island’s Japanese Society, donated 100 blossoming cherry trees to Vashon High School as an appreciation for the education the Japanese-American community enjoyed. In Japan, the cherry tree is considered the most beautiful of all blossoming trees. Ujiro Nishiyori, the President of the Society said “It is our hope that in the years to come, these trees, symbol the land of our birth, may grow and flourish, making more lovely our Vashon Island.”
On May 16, 1942, 16 Vashon High School students and 14 grammar school students, along with their families and the rest of the Japanese-American community on Vashon, were forcefully removed from their homes in compliance with Executive Order 9066. Only about a third of the Japanese-American community returned to the island.
For our September Museum Talk, join Friends of Mukai Board President Rita Brogan, Vashon Island School District Chief Technical Officer John Stanton, Vashon High School Principal Danny Rock, and Vashon Heritage Museum Board President Bruce Haulman as they discuss the gift of the cherry trees by the Japanese American community to Vashon High School, what is being done to preserve the three remaining trees, and how plans are developing to properly preserve and tell this story about racial equity and justice.
Speaker Bios:
Coming soon!