One man smuggled a camera lens into an internment camp during World War II to document the lives of those held behind barbed wire.
Synopsis
One man smuggled a camera lens into an internment camp during World War II to document the lives of those held behind barbed wire.
Synopsis
Toyo Miyatake built a makeshift camera while interned at a World War II camp. He smuggled in a lens and worked with fellow craftsmen to create it. Miyatake, a photographer from Los Angeles's Little Tokyo, documented life behind barbed wire. His photographs captured the harsh conditions and the spirit of his fellow internees, many of whom were American citizens. Miyatake believed it was his duty to record these events to prevent history from repeating itself.
Deep Dive
Why Watch
- Meet Toyo Miyatake, a pioneering Japanese American photographer.
- See the realities of life in World War II internment camps.
- Find out how art was used to document injustice.
Did You Know
- Toyo Miyatake was an issei photographer from Los Angeles.
- Miyatake built a camera using a smuggled lens in the internment camp.
- Many internees were American citizens who fought for the U.S. overseas.
Perfect For
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Toyo Miyatake?
Toyo Miyatake was a successful issei photographer and owner of a photo-shop in the Los Angeles Little Tokyo district.
What did Toyo Miyatake do in the internment camps?
He smuggled in a camera lens and built a makeshift camera to document life in the internment camps during World War II.
What did Miyatake say about his role as a photographer?
Miyatake stated, 'It is my duty to record the facts, as a photographer, so that this kind of thing should never happen again.'
What are people saying?
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