On February 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which led to the incarceration of 120,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry during World War II. Every year, the Japanese American community in Chicago comes together to commemorate EO 9066 as a reminder of the fragility of civil liberties in times of crisis and the importance of protecting the rights and freedoms of all. 

With a theme of “Resilience in One Chicago Family,” this year’s Day of Remembrance event features a panel discussion on the tanka poetry of issei (first-generation immigrant) poets 

Tomiko and Ryokuyō Matsumoto and their book By the Shore of Lake Michigan (UCLA Asian American Studies Center Press, 2024). 

• Nancy Matsumoto, editor and granddaughter of Tomiko and Ryokuyō Matsumoto 

• Mariko Aratani, translator  

• Kyoko Miyabe, translator 

• Eri F. Yasuhara, Professor of Japanese, California State University, San Bernardino 

Tanka (translated as “short poem”) is one of the oldest forms of Japanese poetry, originating in the seventh century. It consists of five lines with a specific syllable count of 5-7-5-7-7 and can cover a wide range of topics. This made tanka a favored verse form for its ability to capture complex emotions and intimate experiences, offering poets a versatile outlet to express everything from nature and love to historical events and personal reflections. 

Discover the power of tanka poetry in overcoming adversity and shaping identity—where words transcend hardship and history finds its voice. Meet and greet the participants at the reception following the program and engage with  

Free to all; advance registration required.  

Schedule 

2:30 p.m. - Program begins  

3:30 p.m. - Reception with panelist meet and greet and booths by sponsors and community organizations 

4:30 p.m. - Event concludes