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	Vol.7, No 19, September 30, 1999
	Japanese-American woes in WWII camps depicted By Johnna Walker Daily Forty-Niner The psychological damage that many Japanese Americans endured during World War II was the focus of a documentary called "The Children of the Camps," which made its Cal State Long Beach debut Tuesday. More than 100 people visited the University Theatre to view the documentary, which is based on the lives of six Japanese Americans who lived in U.S. internment camps as children during World War II. Toru Satio-Topaz, one of the subjects of the film, was 4 years old when he entered a U.S. internment camp. He said his childhood experiences continue to affect him today.  The film's producer, Satsuk Ina, said Japanese Americans were forced to live in the camps because they were suspected of affiliation with the Japanese government.  "Many of us don't realize that a part of us is still imprisoned," Ina said. Ina, a psychotherapist and marriage and family counselor, and her family were also interned at one of the camps, which were created under then-President Franklin Roosevelt. About 10 years ago, Ina was inspired to begin the project after hearing reactions from some of her students to another film dealing with racism. She later met with groups of Japanese Americans who lived in these camps to discuss their experiences. Since that time, Ina and some of the people shown in her film, have traveled throughout the country making presentations of the film to the general public, university professionals, mental health professionals and Japanese Americans interested in the content of the film. Ina is also in the process of developing educational tools that she refers to as "modules," which will be available to college and high school teachers. These modules will consist of the film as well as tools that will enable teachers to present the facts and history behind the internment camps. "It is really upsetting that these people were held against their own will in a country that's supposed to be free," said Sarah Little, who plans to major in political science.  Little, and other members of the audience expressed their opinions on the film as well as the subject after the documentary was presented. Some of the audience members said that they found parallels between the Japanese American experience in these camps and experiences of members of other ethnic groups.		Proposal plans budget increase Nonresident student fee increase considered Cults target stressed, lonely students Japanese-American woes in WWII camps depicted Vehicles collide off campus Stop abusive relations Fate of computers uncertain in Y2K Long Beach Dub All Stars to play at CSULB University art lecture intrigues audience Classic video picks for the weekend The beach trys to extend streak 49ers run into big-time meet Games begin in conference Freshman Thomas adds depth to 49er bench Fall 99 ISSUES DAILY 49ER HOMEPAGE
Forty-Niner Publications, Department of Journalism, California State University, Long Beach ©1999 All rights reserved.