Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial

The Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial, located in Bainbridge Island, Washington, is a powerful and evocative site that commemorates the forced removal and exclusion of Japanese Americans during World War II. Administered by the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial Association (BIJAEMA), the memorial features a 276-foot long Memorial Wall displaying the names and ages of the island's 276 Japanese American residents in 1942, as well as terracotta friezes that tell their unique American story. Designed by award-winning architect Johnpaul Jones, the memorial aims to educate future generations about the injustices of the past and promote healing, forgiveness, and care for one another.

The memorial is currently undergoing construction in four phases, with Phase One completing the entry road and parking lots, Phase Two constructing the Memorial Wall, and Phase Three creating the Exclusion Departure Deck. The final phase, Phase Four, will include an environmentally designed Visitors Center, an outdoor amphitheater, and a low wall with bench seating. Fundraising efforts are ongoing to support the completion of this important project. The Bainbridge Island Japanese American community, who were the first to be forcibly removed and the last to occupy a block of barracks, play a significant role in preserving and sharing the history of the WWII exclusion and incarceration story.

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