During World War II, the United States government put Japanese people into work camps in an effort to stop Japanese spies. Aiko Herzig-Yoshinaga was one of 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry removed from their West Coast homes and imprisoned during World War II. More than one half of them were American citizens like her. They were sent to these camps because the country was at war with Japan, and to the government they looked like the enemy. From the 1940s to the 1980s, efforts were made to review the causes and effects of Japanese American imprisonment during WWII. Aiko played a crucial role by discovering evidence of the government’s wrongdoing, and she shared it with groups of activists. 

Aiko Herzig-Yoshinaga displays heroic character traits like courage, compassion, selflessness, and wisdom. She made us realize that it is wrong to view entire populations as the same. We admire how helpful she was during tough times and how she kept her courage. Aiko is a great role model because she helped and encouraged others, and showed wisdom through her actions.

We used the photos in the background of what was happening to Japanese Americans during WWII including being sent to work camps. We showed details of Aiko’s story to give context to what she went through. We folded paper cranes which originated in Japan and are a sign of hope and peace, something that Aiko spread to others. 

We learned a lot about Aiko Herzig-Yoshinaga and how to work as a team to create something beautiful. We also learned that making a meaningful art piece takes patience and creativity. Aiko Herzig-Yoshinaga’s story should be shared around the world today. She shows us that it is wrong to view entire populations of people as the same and to respect each other as individuals.