Reviews of Sam Mihara’s Heart Mountain Presentation:
Reactions from Reactions from McDermott Will & Emery LLP attorneys:
May 2023
“This was a terrific program. The speaker was exceptional and has a real knack for connecting with his audience on a personal level.”
“Your presentation was so powerful, captivating, and informative.”
“Although I read the SCOTUS opinions in law school, Sam provided information and context that I was not previously exposed to on some of the darkest days in our country’s history.
“I am going to also educate myself/child and others on this part of history that I did not learn in history class in school. I am African American and did not know the Japanese also experienced oppression.”
Reactions from 5th graders at a Long Island, New York school:
April 2023
“I will keep the story of the Japanese internment camp alive by telling my kids what happened and make sure that free people should not be put in jail because of what they look like.” — Timmy
“I will try my best to tell your story to my kids so they can keep passing it down to every generation. I am so grateful. One of the most helpful experiences I had ever heard.” — Kellen
“Your talk made me feel like I was there. It made me feel like I was in your shoes and that nothing during that time could have been easy.” — Penny
“At the dinner table, I told my parents about you because you inspired me and what I do. You helped me know that what happened was wrong and we should not have done that.” — Madeleine
“I felt like I was there and I am really sorry you had to go through that. When I got home, I told my family about what you went through.” — Mikayla
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Mr. Mihara was incredible and the students were captivated. Thank you for making this morning one of the most memorable days of my school year! – High School Teacher, New York
Reactions from Davis Wright Tremaine Attorneys
March 2021
“I appreciate Mr. Mihara’s very clear and direct first-hand account; he shared an important part of American history but also important insight with respect to current concerns.”
“I appreciated all the stories, his updates on his childhood friends, and going into detail the actual experiences of Japanese Americans who were interned. Mad props to Ken for facilitating the event. His emotional opening set the tone for the rest of the presentation.”
“Speaker was great, and the slides were very impactful and helpful.”
“Effective, passionate, well-prepared speaker with powerful messages.”
“The presentation was both personal and informative, and I appreciated the opportunity for Q&A with Mr. Mihara.”
“Sam was an amazing storyteller. He found an incredible balance between humor and serious discussion and mixing facts and personal experience.”
“It was a rare insight into a period of history that’s often obscured, and felt very timely.”
“Such an elegant and graceful man. What an abominable time in our history. I really appreciate the recollection of his experience during that time period. Hard to believe this was perpetrated on U.S. soil against our own citizens.”
Reactions from Harvard Law School
November 3, 2016
“Sam Mihara gives a riveting, engaging, and well-polished presentation on Japanese internment. His use of multimedia resources and engagement with the audience make an otherwise distant history, personal and vibrant. Although I have attended many talks and presentations at the law school, Mr. Mihara’s presentation was a unique experience. He managed to effectively reach audience members on a personal level while also describing the history of Japanese internment that so often goes untold.
Japanese internment survivor educates Greenwich students
By Alexandra Villarreal, Greenwich Times
Published 7:36 pm, Thursday, December 7, 2017
Photography courtesy of Bob Luckey Jr.
GREENWICH — When the government decided to document Japanese American internment, officials chose Dorothea Lange for a reason. Through heart-wrenching photos like the “Migrant Mother” series, she had proven her capacity to capture the humanity in tough situations and pull on viewers’ heartstrings.
Reactions
“… an engaging, and thoughtful speaker.” – Judy Tzu-Chun Wu, Professor and Chair, Department of Asian American Studies, University of California, Irvine, February 27, 2018
“… one of the best guest lectures I’ve ever heard.” – Kristine Dennehy, Ph.D. Professor and Chair, Department of History, California State University Fullerton, February 26, 2018.
“[Mr. Mihara’s] presentation was an excellent blend of historical information combined with personal anecdotes….” – John Pratt, U.S. History Teacher, Greensburg Community High School, Greensburg, Indiana, February 8, 2018.
“… a moving, thought-provoking, and professional description of … imprisonment at the Heart Mountain Internment Camp during World War II.” – Walter F. Eggers, III, Holland & Hart LLP, October 27, 2017.
“The feedback was fantastic, with everyone giving the program positive reviews and 93% rating it as excellent.” – Maria J. Minor, Director of Professional Recruitment & Development, Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP, September 13, 2017.
“I was very intrigued by the guest speaker, as I found his story to be very informative and extremely interesting.” – Raigan Reeves, Student, AP U.S. History Class, Alameda Catholic High School
“Feedback from participants has all been positive, with one person saying ‘this was an absolutely FABULOUS presentation.’” – Robert N. Johnson, Chairman, Kazuyoshi “Yoshi” Domoto, Executive Director, Japan-America Society of Georgia, March 31, 2017.
“Sam Mihara is a phenomenal speaker….” – Monique Gordon-Anefal, Director of the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Advocacy Committee, School of the Holy Child, March 6, 2017.
“Sam Mihara’s presentation on the mass imprisonment of people of Japanese ancestry was one of the highlights of our year.” – Asian Pacific American Law Students Association (APALSA), Columbia Law School, March 1, 2017.
“All who saw Mr. Mihara’s presentation were very impressed, and appreciated the human and emotional angle on the Japanese Internment.” – Nicholas Wu, Co-President Emeritus, Princeton Asian American Students Association, February 20, 2017.
“Mr. Mihara’s confident and self-assured presentation style is perfectly suited for such a difficult topic.” – Amie K. Santos, Diversity & Inclusion Manager, Cooley LLP, June 1, 2016.
“… our attendees … were completely engaged.” – Taja D. Beekley, Manager, Asian American Resource Center, Austin, Texas, February 25, 2016.
“[Sam’s] use of historic photographs, interviews and film clips stirred the audiences and brought home to many how fortunate we are today.” – Frances B. Clymer, Director, Park County Library System, Cody, Wyoming, December 10, 2015.
“It has been six months since [Sam] presented [his] program and to this day we continue to receive patron requests for [his] return.” – Julie Okabayashi, Scheduling Specialist, Clark County Library, Las Vegas, Nevada, December 7, 2015.
“Your story … was told with remarkable courage and precision….” – Marilyn L. Wheaton, Director, Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum, Saginaw Valley State University, June 24, 2015.
“It was an honor to hear your story….” – Kai Uno, President, Japanese American Citizens League, Omaha Chapter
“Thank you … for an informative and enjoyable presentation.” – Kanji Sahara, Vice President, Greater LA Chapter, JACL, January 22, 2015.
“… [elicits] a deep level of empathy and understanding from his audiences.” – Dr. James Bruggeman, Executive Director, The Montana Council for History and Civics Education, November 10, 2014.
“Your public presentation did an outstanding job of conveying some of the experiences of being in an internment camp during WWII.” – Isadora A. Helfgott, Assistant Professor, Department of History, University of Wyoming, October 21, 2014.
“We urge you to consider hosting [Sam Mihara] and discover for yourself and your audience this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hear from someone who lived it.” – Tamsen Hert, President, and Linda Fabian, Executive Secretary, Wyoming State Historical Society, October 20, 2014.
“I would highly recommend that any group thinking of visiting Heart Mountain invite Sam Mihara to be their guide and guest lecturer.” – Karen Arnold, Lifelong Learning Specialist, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Casper College, October 14, 2014.
“It has been nearly a month since Mr. Mihara graced our campus with his presence and there is still much discussion about his presentation.” – Donna White, Community Education Director, Eastern Wyoming College, October 13, 2014.
“In sum, this is an eloquent, moving, and historically-accurate overview of what Japanese Americans went through during the 1940s….” – Lane Ryo Hirabayashi, Ph.D., George & Sakaye Aratani Professor and Endowed Chair, Asian American Studies, UCLA, May 4, 2014.
“Mr. Mihara’s willingness to share his experience benefits everyone who is fortunate enough to attend his presentations.” – Steve Togami, President, New Mexico JACL, March 31, 2014.
“I can attest to not only the value of the content of Mr. Mihara’s lecture, but also the consequential impact that his inspired delivery of it made on all of the students who were privileged to be present to receive it….” – Dr. Arthur A. Hansen, Professor Emeritus of History and Asian American Studies, California State University, Fullerton, March 11, 2014.
“Sam Mihara’s presentation was enlightening, well told and very relevant.” – Alice Ishigami-Tao, President, Japanese American Citizens League SELANOCO Chapter, January 25, 2014.
“Your talk is very good and covers the ground well.” – Dr. Takashi Hoshizaki, former Heart Mountain prisoner, and Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation Board Member, January 18, 2014.
“… very engaging and delivered in a fashion that is not only informative, but personalized ….” – J. George Tanaka, Senior Vice President, Union Bank, January 15, 2014.
“… to have the opportunity to hear the personal voice of a former internee is extremely rare and valuable.” – Tomoko Ozawa, Ph.D., Administrator, Association for Immigration Studies, Musashino Art University, Tokyo, December 3, 2013.
“[The children] learned so much and we had many lively discussions afterward.” – Shawn Jones, Fourth Grade Teacher, Powell Grammar School, Powell Wyoming, June 21, 2013.
“Numerous audience members … remarked that it was one of the best presentations they had ever attended at NWC.” – Amy L. McKinney, Northwest College, Powell, Wyoming, June 21, 2013.
“Thank you for taking the time to make society better,” – Karen Lester, San Francisco City Guides, May 18, 2013.
“This has been one of the most celebrated presentations the Central Wyoming College’s Diversity Committee has organized in months.” – Marilú Duncan, Central Wyoming College, May 1, 2013.
“One attendee called it ‘the best presentation of the conference’ and another said it was ‘thought-provoking and brilliant.’” – John Csepegi, Director of Conference & Events, National Council for History Education, Inc., March 26, 2013.
“… a very meaningful and thought-provoking presentation.” – Leroy Pepper, Nashville Public Schools, March 25, 2013.
“Sam’s story is one that all Americans would benefit from hearing,” – Susie Woo, Ph.D., Faculty, USC, March 12, 2013.
