“Reframing accusations of disloyalty through We Hereby Refuse”
Bellevue College Day of Remembrance
February 23, 2022
For the Asian Pacific Islander Student Association, Frank Abe connects the wartime incarceration of Japanese Americans with the resurgence in anti-Asian violence today and explores how false accusations of disloyalty have historically been made solely on the basis of race. With API Students host Sunny Lee.
“Vashon connections to We Hereby Refuse”
Vashon Island Day of Remembrance
February 19, 2022
Tracing the movement of Vashon residents to Tule Lake and the story of camp resistance in We Hereby Refuse, with Frank Abe and Tamiko Nimura and moderated by Islander Rita Brogan, in collaboration with Mukai Farm & Garden.
“Broadway High School’s place in Japanese American resistance”
Seattle Colleges Day of Remembrance
February 17, 2022
Frank Abe weaves the stories of four Broadway High School students through the lens of We Hereby Refuse, Conscience and the Constitution, and the first Day of Remembrance and redress.
“We Hereby Refuse: The Bay Area Allies”
Eastwind Books / Oakland Asian Cultural Center
February 13, 2022
Frank Abe in conversation with Kathleen Purcell, daughter of Mitsuye Endo’s attorney James Purcell; Wayne Collins Jr., son of Hiroshi Kashiwagi’s attorney Wayne Collins; and Sadako Kashiwagi, Hiroshi’s widow.
“Frank Abe on the Day of Remembrance and We Hereby Refuse“
Washington Game Changers podcast
January 28, 2022
A one-on-one conversation with League of Education Voters CEO Lauri Hennessey on the Day of Remembrance and We Hereby Refuse. Listen here.
“We Hereby Refuse: The Next Generation”
Tadaima! A Community Virtual Pilgrimage
September 18, 2021
Meet the children of the three main characters of our graphic novel — Jim Akutsu’s son Phillip, Mitsuye Endo’s daughter Wendy, and Hiroshi Kashiwagi’s son Soji — and hear their reactions to the characterization of their parents.
“Authors Uncovered“
Sacramento Public Library
August 25, 2021
Our conversation featured the Sacramento stories of young Mitsuye Endo and Hiroshi Kashiwagi, and Ross Ishikawa’s vibrant visual storytelling. Moderated by Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Kara Ueda.
“Western Washington Gets Real: New graphic novel highlights resistance to Japanese American internment”
KIRO7 News
August 20, 2021
A four-minute feature with reporter Deborah Horne at the clock tower of King Street Station, talking about the graphic novel and my personal connections to the train station and nearby Immigration Detention Station.
“Seattle Now & Then 360” at
King Street Station
Seattle Times
Pacific Northwest Magazine
August 8, 2021
A 12-minute audio interview with Frank Abe recorded by Jean Sherrard on location at King Street Station for his “Seattle Now & Then 360” YouTube channel, to accompany his Pacific Northwest Magazine feature in the Sunday Seattle Times.
“Authors of Incarceration” panel
Virtual Heart Mountain Pilgrimage
July 24, 2021
Ray Locker and Erin Aoyama of the Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation moderate a panel “with the authors of the most popular books about Japanese American incarceration out now! Panelists include Frank Abe (We Hereby Refuse), Daniel James Brown (Facing the Mountain), Shirley Ann Higuchi (Setsuko’s Secret), and Bradford Pearson (The Eagles of Heart Mountain).”
Southern California book launch for We Hereby Refuse
Japanese American National Museum
June 26, 2021
Writers Frank Abe and Tamiko Nimura came together for a conversation and reading of the graphic novel, joined by artist Ross Ishikawa to talk about his process recreating Japanese American history with 3-D modeling and YURI Education Project creators who shared the free online resources that accompany the book. The conversation was moderated by Dr. Kelly Fong, Professor of Asian American Studies at UCLA.
“The Minidoka Story in We Hereby Refuse“
Virtual Minidoka Pilgrimage
June 17, 2021
Book talk with Erin Shigaki on that part of the story of Jim Akutsu and his family that unfolded at Minidoka, with a special focus on the Mothers Society petition to the President for restoration of citizenship rights for their sons before any drafting of them from camp.
Seattle book launch: We Hereby Refuse
Seattle Public Library, Elliott Bay Book Company, Densho, Wing Luke Museum
June 14, 2021
Authors Frank Abe and Tamiko Nimura and artist Ross Ishikawa debut We Hereby Refuse for Seattle library patrons, in conversation with Densho’s Tom Ikeda. Co-sponsored by Densho and the Elliott Bay Book Company.
“Inside the Issues with Alex Cohen”
Spectrum News One – LA West
May 26, 2021
For Charter Communications cable-tv subscribers in Southern California, from Santa Barbara to North San Diego County, a 9-minute conversation on “Inside the Issues with Alex Cohen” on Spectrum News One.
“Book Talk: We Hereby Refuse”
Japanese American Memorial Pilgrimages
Black Friday Holiday Special, Nov. 27, 2020
Writers Frank Abe and Tamiko Nimura read scenes from the graphic novel, and artist Ross Ishikawa to demonstrates the 3-D modeling he used to recreate the look of key historical settings. A one-hour conversation moderated by Erin Aoyama for the JAMP YouTube channel.
“Japanese American Voices in Graphic Novels”
Escondido Public Library Pop Culture Panel Series
October 27, 2020
A six-minute presentation by Frank Abe and Tamiko Nimura on the characters in the graphic novel, followed by a panel in which they’re joined by artist/writers Mari Naomi, Sarah Kuhn, Kiku Hughes, and Yuko Ota. Moderated by librarian Jessica Buck for the “One Book, One San Diego” program.