Uploaded March 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

---

Tenacious and prolific, Japanese American artist Miné Okubo continued perfecting her art even as war intervened twice during the early years of her promising career. Okubo is acclaimed for "Citizen 13660," a book of her 198 drawings revealing life inside a temporary Bay Area detention center and a Utah concentration camp where she was incarcerated with thousands of other Japanese during World War II. It was the first book about the American concentration camp experience by a former prisoner.

Okubo’s work has influenced many Japanese American artists up to the present day, whether through her practice, style, or dedication to documenting the truth about the world around her. In this interactive virtual discussion and workshop, presented virtually on January 29, 2022, and moderated by Rose Keiko Higa, artists Kiku Hughes, MariNaomi, and Yumi Sakugawa shared how they are inspired by Miné.

Buy now from the JANM Store:
"Turning Japanese'"by MariNaomi: janmstore.com/products/turning-japanese
"Displacement" by Kiku Hughes: janmstore.com/products/displacement
"I Choose You (Every Day and Always)" by Yumi Sakugawa: janmstore.com/products/i-choose-you

Learn more about "Miné Okubo's Masterpiece: The Art of Citizen 13660," on display at the Japanese American National Museum, through March 27, 2022: janm.org/mine-okubo-masterpiece

---
Programs like this are made possible by the generous support of JANM’s members and donors. Become a member (janm.org/membership​) or consider making a tax-deductible gift so that we can continue to present more programs and exhibitions like these: janm.org/donatenow​. Your support makes a difference. Thank you!

Japanese American National Museum
100 N. Central Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
janm.org

Stay connected with us!
Follow JANM on Instagram: instagram.com/jamuseum
Follow JANM on Twitter: twitter.com/jamuseum
Follow JANM on Facebook: facebook.com/jamuseum