Kengo Uehara

Through the program, I was able to gain new knowledge about Japanese Americans and have special experiences in Chicago. Before the program, I didn’t know much about Japanese American history in America: like the incarceration camps and the discrimination they were subjected to, so I was surprised when I heard about the harsh environment they had to survive. As historians and survivors emphasize the importance of knowing history and passing it down, I realized again that we have to study history so as not to repeat the same mistakes. Also, It was good to find connections between Chicago and Japan. I have studied the Iwakura Mission in a Japanese school, so I found it interesting to know that they also visited Chicago for the first time as Japanese, and they donated to Chicago in sympathy for the great fire. (They also passed through Galesburg, where our college is located!) I found it interesting to connect the knowledge I had in different places. In addition to our class studies, the field trip to Chicago helped me to understand how Japanese Americans helped each other and how they adapted to American society. When we visited the two temples, we saw the difference between the temples in Japan and the temples in Chicago from the music sheets, chairs, and praying style. Then, when we visited the Christian church, we saw how faith connects people and stabilizes their hearts because of their welcoming attitude towards us and their personal stories. I am not a religious person, but now after studying Japanese Americans who had to live in a difficult situation, I came to understand more about how religion helps people. We also visited a lot of historical places for Japanese Americans, like some Japanese gardens, the places where the World’s Columbian Exposition took place, where Japanese Americans used to live, the Art Institute, and two universities.

These experiences allowed me to observe and reflect on how people interact with the city and society, and how they are making a difference. For example, I was glad to see that Japanese gardens and Japanese art are carefully maintained and enjoyed by many people. In the place of racism there now exists a rich cultural exchange taking place. At the two universities, the actual letters and gifts provided insight into their relationship with Japan and their changing treatment of Nikkei. While the commonality of sports brought people together, the war divided them. Also, when I visited the South Side of Chicago, where Japanese Americans used to live, I saw more black people and observed how racially divided Chicago is. I was able to learn about the research itself by meeting historians, librarians, and organizations. They all start to cherish their pure interest and they start with having questions. It is important to us even though we are not all researchers. They were careful in their use of language, and like them, we can avoid making the same mistakes by not just accepting what we are taught, but by thinking critically for ourselves about the intentions behind our word choices and by questioning political policies. Japanese Americans were unfairly discriminated against and were forced to show loyalty to America because they had roots in two different countries, but this kind of discrimination still occurs today. I think we sometimes divide people into categories and try to exclude those in categories we don’t belong to ourselves or those we don’t understand. However, if we try to get to know them, we may be able to prevent ourselves from committing the kind of discrimination that Japanese Americans suffered.

Kengo Uehara - Class of 2026
Theatre Major
Early Days and Universities' Policies in the Midwest During WWII Page

Kengo (he/him) is a student learning theatre. He is from Okinawa, Japan. His favorite food is sushi. He is interested in creating artworks such as movies and theatre.