A Fun Day Scanning Photos Taken by Isago Tanaka - Terry Wong

I had a fun day scanning historically significant picture-artifacts dating as far back as during the WWII taken by photographer Isago Isao Tanaka. The pictures in the particular album I scanned vividly represented the strong cultural roots of the Japanese in Americaa back in the past. People were celebrating the "Bon Odori" commemoration in the pictures I scanned. I assumed that it is a Japanese holiday event that consists of parades, carnivals and playing cultural musical instruments. Occasionally, there's a "Hakujin" in kimono in one of those pictures. This shows the harmonious period that these pictures were taken in, as opposed to the war period. Japanese American people were having a blast while enjoying the peace and harmony. These pictures should be preserved for its presented happiness that we as social justice workers strive for.

                                                                                                                  - Terry Wong
                                                                                                                    NJAHS volunteer intern