Kansas State University

Upcoming panel on Japan-US relations after WWII

Submitted by Cailin Wycoff

What effect did World War II and the Japanese internment have on Japan-U.S. relations in the decades that followed? One example of the war's impact is reflected in the experiences of famed glassblower Mitsugi Ohno and his family, who immigrated to Manhattan in 1961. 

Come to a panel discussion at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8, in the Hemisphere Room in Hale Library that will explore this topic and connect it locally and personally. Panelists include:

• Tsutomu Ohno, Mitsugi's son, who was born in Tokyo and was six years old when his family came here. He will share information and images of the Ohno family, as well as personal recollections, in the decades after their arrival.
• David A. Graff, Pickett professor of military history and chair of the history department at K-State. His main teaching fields are Chinese and Japanese history, and he will provide some historical context about Japan-U.S. relations in the decades after World War II.

After the panel, attendees will be able to enjoy a small pop-up exhibit of samples from Mitsugi Ohno's papers in the university archives as well as some examples of his work and glassblowing tools. Light refreshments will be served.

This event is a part of the K-State First Book Faculty/Staff lecture series and is sponsored by K-State Libraries special collections and the history department, with support from the Dow Center for Multicultural Studies.

The event will also be available via Zoom.