Spirit Rock
Executive Producer: Masako Takahashi
Producer: Nancy Ukai
Director: Claudia Katayanagi
DP: Satsuki Murashige
Concept by Jeffrey Yasuo Mansfield
Spirit Rock Sculptor: Yoshi Asai
Art Directors: Kiyoshi and Akemi Ina
Video Artist: Glenn Mitsui
Welcome to our website
Survivors, Descendants, and Japanese Americans have an acknowledged role as full partners in the preservation, curation, and interpretation of the material, cultural and textual history of Topaz as it is presented at the Topaz Museum and throughout its historic
landscape.
The Wakasa Memorial Committee also wishes to ensure that our family and community history is interpreted and treated with respect and transparency, drawing on best practices, expert advice, community dialogue, and principles of inclusivity.
Banner made by former Topaz inmates, courtesy Manzanar Committee and Manzanar National Historic Site
July 27, 2021
Wakasa Monument, erected by incarcerees in 1943 to remember James Hatsuaki Wakasa, who was shot to death by a military guard, is unearthed from Topaz National Historic Landmark site and placed in the Topaz Museum courtyard, in Delta, Utah.
Sept 7, 2021
Wakasa Memorial Committee (WMC) is formed and sends letter to Topaz Museum Board (TMB) listing six steps to begin repairing trust between TMB and Topaz survivors and descendants and Japanese American stakeholders. The Topaz site is nationally important, the Wakasa Monument is an irreplaceable civil rights memorial and the resolution of the crisis must be at a national scale.
Nov 30 - Dec 1, 2021
National Park Service (NPS) archaeologists perform surface assessment of stone and removal site. Report published January, 2022. The videos of the unearthing of the Wakasa Monument are not released. In July, 2022, the WMC issued a petition on change.org requesting that the TMB release the videos that are an integral part of Japanese American history and of James Hatsuaki Wakasa and his Monument at Topaz NHL.
Sept 28, 2022
Meetings begin with Utah State Historic Preservation Office, National Park Service (NPS), TMB, WMC representatives and former Utah State Senator Jani Iwamoto.
April 21-22, 2023
80th anniversary of Wakasa’s murder commemoration is co-sponsored by WMC and TMB.
Jan 15, 2024
Topaz Museum Board sends a statement to the WMC saying it is planning to “to identify and design a permanent display” for the Wakasa Memorial Stone” in its museum. Consent and consultation has not taken place with WMC in public community meetings by TMB members with survivors, descendants and stakeholders.
Photo: WMC takes public historians attending the National Council on Public History to view the Wakasa Memorial Stone in a pilgrimage, April, 2024
March 26, 2024
TMB states that the “work of Utah SHPO is over,” causing concern over exclusion of stakeholders, survivors and descendants from transparent and professional discussions regarding decisions on the Topaz NHL, the Wakasa Monument and interpretation.
Photo taken July 27, 2021