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Line dance leader Kit Cheung teaches her class of Chinese-American women in an unlikely place: the parking lot of a local library. No other public location offers both the outdoor space and sun cover the group requires for their twist on the traditional Chinese exercise of tai chi. The relationship that forms between the initially reluctant library and Kit’s dance group has created some unexpected opportunities.

“While in the Mindoka concentration camp, Idaho, during World War II, Frank Yamasaki refused his draft order. As a result, he was imprisoned at the McNeil Island Penitentiary, Washington.”

This video clip addresses reactions from Japanese Americans to the 8 p.m. curfew, forced imprisonment in internment camps, and creation of the 422nd Regimental Combat Team.

“Akiko Kurose grew up in Seattle, Washington. In this clip, she talks about how she felt when she heard that Japan had bombed Pearl Harbor.”

“Masao Watanabe grew up in Seattle, Washington, and during the war was initially sent to the 'assembly center' at the fairgrounds in Puyallup, Washington. In this video clip, he talks about his initial reactions upon arrival.”

“Tosh Yasutake’s father was arrested by the FBI after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and held in internment camps administered by the Department of Justice. The rest of the family was incarcerated in the Minidoka concentration camp, Idaho. Tosh volunteered for the 442nd Regimental Combat Team while still in camp. In this clip, he talks about making that decision.”