Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
On October 4, 2025, Janice Munemitsu, author of “The Kindness of Color,” and Tommy Dyo, Asian American and Pacific Islander advocate and Little Tokyo historian, explored the “leftovers” that shaped their respective family lifestyle, habits, emotions, and underlying trauma as a result of the World War II incarceration and postwar resettlement years. They reflected on the generational inheritance of perseverance, interconnectedness, and survival “gambatte” of their families.
Janice is a Sansei; all ten of her Issei and Nisei family members were incarcerated in the Poston concentration camp in Arizona. Tommy’s family members’ experience spans from Santa Anita temporary detention center in California to the Heart Mountain concentration camp in Wyoming, the Gila River concentration camp in Arizona, and the Crystal City Department of Justice internment camp in Texas. Both of their grandfathers were unjustly arrested and incarcerated at the Lordsburg and Santa Fe Department of Justice internment camps in New Mexico. Together, their hope is that their conversation will facilitate greater understanding, promote healing for others, and cultivate kindness.
“The Kindness of Color” is available at the JANM Store: janmstore.com/products/kindness-of-color
Read Discover Nikkei’s interview with Janice Munemitsu: discovernikkei.org/en/journal/2025/9/26/to-kindness-and-beyond
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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
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On October 4, 2025, Janice Munemitsu, author of “The Kindness of Color,” and Tommy Dyo, Asian American and Pacific Islander advocate and Little Tokyo historian, explored the “leftovers” that shaped their respective family lifestyle, habits, emotions, and underlying trauma as a result of the World War II incarceration and postwar resettlement years. They reflected on the generational inheritance of perseverance, interconnectedness, and survival “gambatte” of their families.
Janice is a Sansei; all ten of her Issei and Nisei family members were incarcerated in the Poston concentration camp in Arizona. Tommy’s family members’ experience spans from Santa Anita temporary detention center in California to the Heart Mountain concentration camp in Wyoming, the Gila River concentration camp in Arizona, and the Crystal City Department of Justice internment camp in Texas. Both of their grandfathers were unjustly arrested and incarcerated at the Lordsburg and Santa Fe Department of Justice internment camps in New Mexico. Together, their hope is that their conversation will facilitate greater understanding, promote healing for others, and cultivate kindness.
“The Kindness of Color” is available at the JANM Store: janmstore.com/products/kindness-of-color
Read Discover Nikkei’s interview with Janice Munemitsu: discovernikkei.org/en/journal/2025/9/26/to-kindness-and-beyond
—
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 Facebook: facebook.com/jamuseum
Follow JANM on TikTok: tiktok.com/@jamuseum
Follow JANM on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jamuseum.bsky.social
Follow JANM on Threads: threads.net/@jamuseum
