family's stories of internment remain unfamiliar to her. So, Matsuoka's account is like a valuable artefact.

In 2009, Nakamaru was in the midst of writing a memoir, piecing together what she did know of her family's history of internment, when thieves broke into her New York City apartment and stole her computer. She tried to return to the project, but the emotions poured into her lost work were gone. The project stopped. But, today, she's trying once more to get back to that work of piecing together her history.

Japanese American social justice activist and multimedia artist, Kyoko Nakamaru [Jessica Chou/Al Jazeera]

Rounding up orphans

Matsuoka was seven when he, his parents and two sisters lined up outside a Buddhist temple in Los Angeles' Little Tokyo. There, they were tagged like livestockand loaded onto buses.

He takes Nakamaru to the site of that temple. The edifice has been preserved with great care; inside is a community advocacy group called Go for Broke National Education Centre, inspired by the Japanese American World War II veterans who served the US while its government incarcerated their relatives.

"Their story of valour, patriotism and sacrifice is more relevant than ever today, as we face hard questions about social justice, due process, equal protection under the law, and the nature of democracy," says Mitchell T Maki, Go For Broke president. "We want people of all ages and backgrounds to understand the Nisei experience, and to act with similar courage in their own lives." Nisei refers to Americans born to Japanese parents.

"We're engaging with other communities, other