Detour to Crystal City: Memories of a Japanese Latin American World War II Incarceration Survivor
New Memoir to be Published by the National Japanese American Historical Society
NJAHS is thrilled to announce that we are nearing the completion of a project very near to our hearts: a memoir by the late Libia Hideko Maoki Yamamoto, “Detour to Crystal City: Memories of a Japanese Latin American WWII Internment camp Survivor,” detailing the life of her Japanese immigrant family from their arrival and settlement in Peru to their forcible removal and incarceration in a Department of Justice Internment camp in Crystal City, Texas.
Libia attended an adult writing class at J-SEI in Emeryville, CA facilitated by Grace Morizawa. She was already a born leader and spokesperson in the Japanese Latin American community. She served as co-founder, advisor, and treasurer for the Japanese Peruvian Oral History Project, the Campaign for Justice, Redress for JLAs Now! and at one time served as chapter president of a local Japanese American Citizens League. A natural conversationist and storyteller, Libia had a knack for bringing people together, organizing parties, and figuring logistics for bus tours and pilgrimages. With her defining smile and laughter, she would recall happier memories among family, friends, church members. Yet, in her twilight years she yearned to put to paper what she wanted to tell the world in her own words. Originally “Detour to Crystal City” was to be the first of a trilogy, followed by “Four Years of Incarceration” with the last titled “New Life in the United States.” Yet as she was becoming frailer, she knew her time was running out. A conversation with Grace Morizawa and a call to Rosalyn Tonai of the National Japanese American Historical Society gave her the reassurance that her story would be told in her own voice. Libia passed away in 2022.
Join us at the Information table “Detour to Crystal City” at the 2025 Crystal City Pilgrimage! Please stop by our information table during Friday’s program (8:30am to 9:30pm), to hear more about the project and sign up for preorders.
HARDBOUND ISBN 1-881506-05-8 $18. Paperback ISBN 1-881-506-03-4 230pp $15.
Link to Pre-orders
