Irei Project to Present Ireichō Book of Names at 56th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage

Los Angeles – The Irei Project, a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to memorializing people of Japanese ancestry incarcerated during World War II, will be traveling to the 56th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage on Saturday, April 26, 2025. The pilgrimage, organized by the Manzanar Committee, honors the experiences of Japanese Americans unjustly detained at the Manzanar concentration camp and fosters discussions on civil rights, social justice, and historical memory.

As part of the pilgrimage, Irei Project representatives will present the interactive memorial Ireichō Book of Names which documents the over 125,000 Japanese Americans incarcerated in the U.S. concentration camps during the war. People attending the Manzanar Pilgrimage are encouraged to memorialize those who were incarcerated by placing a hanko (stamp) below the names of family members, friends, and others imprisoned in the camps. Time to stamp a name in memory of those incarcerated in camp in the Ireichō Book of Names will be available by appointment only. Please request your appointment here: https://bit.ly/ireicho

“The annual Manzanar Pilgrimage is a reminder of the strength and determination of the Japanese American community and the importance of preserving our history,” said Manzanar Committee Co-Chair Bruce Embrey. ” We are honored that Reverend Duncan Williams is bringing the Irei Project to this sacred space to continue our commitment to remembrance, healing, and education.”

The pilgrimage will feature interfaith ceremonies, cultural performances, and speakers from the Japanese American community, Muslim American community, and Paiute-Shoshone tribe. The Irei Project will have a presence at the event, inviting participants to engage with their work and contribute to the ongoing conversation about historical memory and justice.

For more information about the annual Manzanar Pilgrimage, please visit https://manzanarcommittee.org/ To learn more about the Irei Project, please go to https://ireizo.org/about/.

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