Idaho Mountain Express: History 'swept under the carpet'

TALK BACK: Now you can add YOUR comments about this article.

Friday, May 22, 2009

History 'swept under the carpet'

Japanese-American Rod Tatsuno to lecture on internment camps

By SABINA DANA PLASSE
Express Staff Writer

Rod Tatsuno, right, poses with his father, Dave Tatsuno, circa May 1975. Photo by Courtesy photo

In 1942, fences were erected for internment camps and anyone who was at least one-eighth Japanese had to report for detention. There were 120,000 men, women and children of Japanese ancestry—many of whom were American citizens—who were forced into 10 remote and desolate relocation camps.

At the Topaz relocation center near Delta, Utah, Dave Tatsuno, of San Jose, Calif., managed to sneak in his Bell and Howell 8 millimeter camera and used color film to make home movies of his family. Little did he know that his favorite pastime would not just be a remedy for his family's suppression, but his films would become a national treasure. The home movies made by Tatsuno now reside in the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

Tatsuno's son Rod, a Ketchum resident, will give a free lecture on his family's interment at Topaz and his father's unwillingness to give up his beliefs on living and experiencing life in the United States. Rod's presentation, which coincides with The Community Library's exhibition "Between Fences," will be at the Ketchum library on Tuesday, May 26, at 6 p.m.

"Some people lived between fences, but not by their choice," Rod said. "Some internment camps did not have as many fences, such as in Arizona. We were in Delta, Utah, which was very far away from anything and there were no interstates. We had fences, guard towers and guards with machine guns."

While in confinement at Topaz, the Tatsuno family thought that America had turned its back on Japanese-American citizens.

"There is so much history that is swept under the carpet," Rod said. "Many people still don't know about the internment camps."

Dave died in 2006 at the age of 92, but a documentary film about his life, "Dave Tatsuno, Movies and Memories," was produced by KTEH, which is now San Francisco-based KQED-TV. The film reflects Dave's life and when the family was released from Topaz.

Dave started a new life in the Santa Clara Valley and opened the store Niche Bei Bussan, which means Japanese-American mercantile. He shifted the family business from traditional dry goods to Asian art and clothing. In addition, Dave was a lifelong supporter of the YMCA and was an avid swimmer responsible for the local swimming program in San Jose. His efforts included founding a SCUBA program and traveling whenever possible on behalf of the YMCA.

For details about the event, call 726-3493.

Sabina Dana Plasse: splasse@mtexpress.com

print version

Leave a Comment

There are 5 comments

The comments below are from the readers of mtexpress.com and in no way represent the views of Express Publishing Inc.

Scott Gracheff – New York City

06/09/09 - 23:45

Hello,

I directed "Dave Tatsuno, Movies and Memories" and I'm so glad to see Rod continuing his father's amazing legacy by telling people about this important part of American history. Producer Christina Lim and I first met Dave while working on "Return To The Valley", a documentary that explored the Japanese experience after WWII. He was such an amazing interview and had so many great stories to tell and although he was prominently featured, we just couldn't fit everything into that hour-long program.

When Dave passed away in 2006, we went through all the archival interviews with him and just knew we had to put together a documentary about his life. Christina and I just want to thank Rod and the entire Tatsuno family for letting us into their lives and allowing us to tell their father's inspiring life story.

Scott Gracheff – New York City

06/09/09 - 23:44

Hello,

Goth

05/22/09 - 16:48

A lot of history has been altered and swept under our carpet..

Becca King Reed – San Jose

05/22/09 - 14:29

Hi,

Thanks for mentioning the KTEH documentary Dave Tatsuno, Movies and Memories. We have done other documentaries chronicling this era as well; Return to the Valley, Nisei Soldiers and Soldados. You can see them all on our website, KTEH.org.

KTEH is not KQED, though. We are separate stations under the corporate umbrella, Northern California Public Broadcasting. We are both still broadcasting and creating local content.

Reply to Becca King Reed

Rod Tatsuno – Ketchum, Idaho

06/01/09 - 13:43

HI. Sorry about the KTEH/KQED mix-up. I do appreciate the wonderful documentary about dad. We had tried to get him to write his autobiography, but he was suffering dizzy spells, and he wasn't able to use my old computer that I had given him. Ironically, film was his medium, so it was fitting that his life was told by KTEH. Thanks for the memories....