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Chikara (1995)
Janet Koike, arranged with poetry by Franco Imperial, 2023

“Although I am imprisoned, My heart and mind are free.” This poem, written by Shiro Fujioka during internment in Heart Mountain camp, inspires Chikara, an internal strength that keeps the human spirit alive. The poetry read aloud comes from the “Tachibana Ginsha” (Standing Flower Poetry Group), a collective of Issei individuals confined at Heart Mountain, with the composer’s grandfather being one of its members. Special thanks to Janet Koike for generously sharing this collection with us.