Comprised of over 95 pairings ‘When We Return Home’ is a photographic project based on ephemeral objects, images, and records from my Japanese American family during WWII and the post-war era detailing their removal and internment in an American concentration camp and their post-war reintegration search for a fulfilling, vibrant life. These familial fragments, intermixed with my own photographs, speak to my connection with their loss, lineage, and ultimately hopeful future. This series has been generously supported by Prix Virginia the Biennial International Photography Prize and by an Aperture Creator Prize, both in 2024.
*This is a small selection of the overall work.
The Biennial International Prize for Women in Photography.
Paris, France 2024
Aperture Creator Prize 2024
Aperture Foundation, New York
Jennifer Sakai ‘Le Portfolio’ spread featured artist
edition No. 698 - print and digital
February 2025
fabric of kimono worn by Grandmother in first photo c.1930