12/08/2025
Come and join us for Only the Oaks Remain—A One-day Exhibition on Sunday December 14th 10am-4pm
The Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden was designed by Japanese American landscape architect Kinzuchi Fujii and completed in 1940. During World War II, Fujii was among those deemed by the US government to be “enemy aliens” and ordered to be detained at the Tuna Canyon Detention Station (TCDS), located in Tujunga, only a few miles from the garden. Due to capacity limits at TCDS, Fujii was ultimately held for one day at a Tuna Canyon substation at the Griffith Park Internment Camp.
From 1941 to 1943 the Tuna Canyon Detention Station held over 2000 prisoners—mostly Japanese, but also Germans, Italians, and others. Today, only the old oak trees remain, and few people know of its history. In 2013 the Tuna Canyon Detention Station Coalition (TCDSC) was founded to illuminate this tragic event so that such injustice is never again experienced by any group.
At 1pm, there will be remarks from:
• Meher McArthur - Storrier Stearns Creative Director
• Dr. Kendall H. Brown - Japanese garden historian
• Kyoko Nancy Oda - TCDSC President
• Dr. Russell Endo - TCDS Historian
• Donna Sugimoto - Tuna Canyon descendant, TCDSC Board Secretary.
The speakers and Q & A will be followed by a shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute) performance at 2pm by renowned shakuhachi player Rachel Rudich.
We look forward to seeing you there!
