College - Author 1
College of Liberal Arts
Department - Author 1
Graphic Communication Department
Degree Name - Author 1
BS in Graphic Communication
Date
12-2025
Primary Advisor
Hocheol Yang, College of Liberal Arts, Graphic Communication
Abstract/Summary
This project presents a historical narrative told through the format of a cookbook, exploring the relationship between food, memory, and resilience during the Japanese American Internment of World War II. Using primary resources such as news publications from within the camps (Topaz Times,1943), historical interviews (Herzig, 1994), and secondary resources from an archival podcast (Campu, 2021) to highlight how food served as both a means of survival and an expression of identity under confinement.
The cookbook will combine recipes inspired by documented internment-era meals with stories and reflections gathered from interviews, archival materials, and community voices. Each section will contextualize the recipes within the lived experiences of Japanese Americans, illustrating how limited resources, creativity, and cultural values shaped daily life in the camps.
By blending design, storytelling, and historical preservation, this project aims to honor the legacy of those affected by internment and to promote cultural understanding through the universal language of food. The final deliverable will serve as both an educational artifact and a tribute to the perseverance of the Japanese American community.
URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/grcsp/318
Included in
Asian History Commons, Graphic Design Commons, Japanese Studies Commons, United States History Commons