悲喜こもごも (Hikikomogomo) or Joy and Heartache, will tell the story of Japanese Americans on Vashon through four phases:
- Settlement & Farming
- Exile & Imprisonment
- Return
- Today
Their story is told through photos, artifacts, and personal accounts of some of the remarkable individuals who represent these periods of Japanese American history on the Island.
This exhibit traces the evolution of the Japanese American presence on Vashon Island, and addresses the early immigration of Japanese to Vashon in the early 20th Century, its subsequent growth into a vibrant island subculture, through the trauma of WWII incarceration, recovery and the evolving identity of Japanese Americans.
A community-based collaboration, the exhibition draws from oral histories, historic photos, arts and artifacts that will bring this history alive, including a special reproduction of an internment barrack and personal histories of Japanese Americans living on Vashon today. The exhibit was developed with the participation of many persons of Japanese descent who live on Vashon. Partner organizations are Friends of Mukai, Vashon-Maury Island Land Trust, Vashon Japanese American Research Project.
“The story of Japanese Americans on Vashon Island is a complex legacy founded on the hope of a unique people and culture, nurtured with strength and struggle,” said Bruce Haulman, the exhibit's lead curator. “The historical lessons of the Japanese experience, especially their imprisonment during WWII are particularly relevant in light of the threats that immigrants in America face today.”
