Dave Tatsuno, Creator of "Topaz" Video

Now a San Jose Japantown store owner, Dave Tatsuno was interned in Utah's Topaz Internment Camp from 1943-45. A home movie hobbyist, Tatsuno, with the help of a camp official, was able to have a movie camera sent to him with which he filmed life in Topaz. In January, 1997, this video, now named "Topaz" was placed on the National Film Registry, becoming the second home movie added to the list. Beating out almost 1,000 other films, "Topaz" was chosen because of its historical significance, including its ability to capture the Japanese Americans determination to recreate their lives in the camp.

When he received the camera, Tatsuno hid it in a baby's shoe box and would discretely take it out to film such events as his newborn daughter's arrival home from the hospital, volunteer work crews fixing a water pipe and internees pounding rice, to make mochi (rice cakes) for their New Year's celebration. While many of the internees in the video have smiles on their faces, Tatsuno, says that many times they only look happy because they could not show the sadness and bitterness that they were feeling. He hopes that "Topaz" will help to educate younger generations on the internment.

A large portion of Tatsuno's "Topaz" has been included in the documentary "Something Strong Within" which can be purchased through the Japanese American National Museum at:
(213) 625-0414 or (800) 461-5266

Information taken from:
Akizuki, Dennis. "Internment Camp Film: from Hobby to Treasure," The San Jose Mercury News Saturday, 18 January, 1997, Final Edition, Lead Sec., p. 1.

Erin Kimura