A film by Junichi Suzuki, Toyo’s Camera features the works of Toyo Miyatake and other photographers. Even though bringing cameras into the internment camps was prohibited, one man managed to smuggle in his camera lens and build a camera to document life behind barbed wire, with the help of other craftsmen in the camp. That man was Toyo Miyatake, a successful Issei (first-generation immigrant) photographer and owner of a photo shop in the Los Angeles Little Tokyo district, and one of the many Americans who were interned against their will with their families. With his makeshift camera, Miyatake captured the dire conditions of life in the camps during World War II as well as the resilient spirit of his companions, many of whom were American citizens who went on to fight for their country overseas. Miyatake said, “It is my duty to record the facts, as a photographer, so that this kind of thing should never happen again.” Suzuki’s documentary carries on the legacy of Miyatake’s photography, addressing the historical context of the internment as well as the stories of other Japanese Americans who were affected by this unfortunate chapter in American history.
The movie is free but reservations are required. Call 808-244-6862 or click the button below to reserve your spot
