We're pleased to announce that Dr. Satsuki Ina will be leading a preconference program about her “Children of the Camps” project and PBS documentary. More than 120,000 Japanese Americans were relocated to internment camps by the U.S. government during World War II and over half were children. The film captures the experiences of six Americans of Japanese ancestry who were confined as innocent children and it vividly portrays their personal journey to heal the deep wounds they suffered from this experience.

The preconference special event is sponsored by the International Section and by special session presenter Hillary Rose.

Tuesday, Nov 10, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost $50, includes box lunch and transportation.
You may register now for this event online; see the link to conference registration in the left menu.

Tentative agenda/itinerary

"Children of the Camps" screening and workshop; 9-11 a.m.; Hyatt Regency (room tba)
Dr. Ina will introduce her powerful, award-winning documentary, "Children of the Camps," that portrays the lingering personal impact of the World War II incarceration experience on Japanese Americans who were children during their imprisonment. This program provides a rare glimpse into the very private lives of Japanese Americans who typically have not talked openly about the humiliation and trauma that they suffered. It is an emotionally riveting piece that tells a disturbing story of racism in America, while highlighting the incredibly enduring strengths and cultural resources of the former child prisoners as they embark on a journey of healing.

Following the screening, Dr. Ina and colleague Dr. Walter Kawamoto will discuss how to use this film as a teaching tool in college instruction for courses addressing such issues as ethnic minority families, intergenerational/racism trauma, and political social history of ethnic minorities. Discussion will include relevance of social/historical content as well as group process methods used in working with community trauma.

Japan Town tour; buses depart hotel approx 11:30 a.m. and return at 4 p.m.
Dr. Ina will lead a walking tour of the historic San Francisco Japan Town. It is one of the only 3 surviving Japan Towns in the United States. Sites planned (subject to change) will include the Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Temple, National Japanese American Historical Society, Japan Center which includes the San Francisco Japanese American History Monument and the Ruth Asawa Origami sculptures, Kimochi Senior Services Program. During the walking tour, members of the local community will join the group to share both personal and historical perspectives of life before, during and after camp. Arrangements will be made for Japanese box lunch at the outdoor pavilion of the Japan Center.

Registration may be limited because of bus capacity; early registration recommended.

Satsuki Ina, Ph.D.
Dr. Satsuki Ina is a licensed marriage and family therapist and founder of the Family Study Center, a community agency dedicated to providing community counseling services and post-graduate clinical training for marriage, family and child therapists. In her practice she specializes in cross-cultural counseling, interracial marriages, transracial adoptions and diversity training for agencies and corporations. Dr. Ina is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Counselor Education, School of Education, California State University, Sacramento. There she taught advanced theories and clinical practice courses in Marriage, Family, Child Counseling and Multicultural Counseling.

Dr. Ina served as a producer and project manager for "Children of the Camps" as well as "From a Silk Cocoon," another award-winning documentary depicting the lives of Japanese Americans and the effects of relocation to internment camps during World War II.