20054 Japanese Americans in the Santa Clara Valley: Learning from the Cherry Tree

This is the first in a series of classes in the cultural history of the Santa Clara/Silicon Valley. Each class will explore the story of one cultural community within our diverse region, drawing on language, customs, personal stories, community events and organizations to offer participants a very rich and deep account of one community's experiences and contributions to the whole.

These five special classes trace the development of the Santa Clara Valley's Japanese community, revealing the underlying cultural and spiritual characteristics that have supported survival.

5 sessions: Saturdays, 10 am to 4 pm. Lunch will be served at each session.

First we examine the initial Japanese migration to the Santa Clara Valley, starting in 1895. The new immigrants began careers and started families. Like the fast-growing cherry tree, they put down roots and adapted quickly to their new home. We'll look at the early contributions of the Japanese to the Valley, especially in agriculture. We'll explore the significance of religion, culture and customs in daily life and learn about the Exclusion Acts, which for some time barred further Japanese immigration.

In the second session, we examine the effects of the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. Both the Issei (first generation) and Nisei (second generation) were arrested or taken to "assembly centers" and, eventually, transported to desolate concentration camps, far from the West Coast. In winter, the cherry tree becomes dormant and seems lifeless. Separation from home, friends and even family made this a painful time, when hope seemed to die. Internees will share personal testimonies. We'll consider what helped them survive this ordeal, what happened when they were released, and how the war and incarceration has affected succeeding generations.

Japanese Americans returned to the Valley with mixed feelings: happiness, tempered by anticipation, fear and reluctance. At the spring equinox, when nature is in balance, the cherry tree begins to awaken, showing signs of life. The delicate balance between dormancy and new life evokes the mixed emotions of the returning Japanese and the various responses to their return. Some Nikkei were able to pick up where they had left off years before, but the majority returned with nothing and had to start over. We'll learn how they reestablished family and community life.

Japanese Americans have created a thriving community, contributing greatly to the Valley's well-being and cultural vitality. Yearly events like the Obon and the Chsom festivals in the Valley have helped the Japanese preserve cultural vitality and meaning; they also invite the larger community to appreciate the resilience and strength of the Japanese community and take part in these living traditions. Through such events, succeeding generations learn and appreciate the history and culture of the Japanese in the Valley. The cherry blossoms in full bloom represent new life, hope and an appreciation for the rich cultural heritage that Japanese Americans have been able to maintain and pass on, in spite of countless struggles. We will provide an in-depth preview of the Cherry Blossom Festival (April 28 & 29) through the hearts and minds of performers and artisans, exploring their mission of keeping cultural traditions alive.

The Japanese American experience in Santa Clara Valley now spans more than 100 years. How the community has endured, and how it has changed? What has supported cultural continuity? What can the larger community learn from the Japanese American experience? What does the future hold? Please join us as we answer these and other questions with help from local scholars, activists, community leaders and artists.