The Empty Chair

The Empty Chair is a unique documentary about how Japanese Americans from Juneau, Alaska were sent to prison camps during WWII and how the small Alaskan community stood in quiet defiance against the immoral internment of American citizens. Japanese immigrants came to Alaska in the early 1900's and settled here to raise families. Japanese Americans from the west coast of the US including Alaska were sent to prison camps by the US government from 1942-1945 because all people of Japanese heritage were considered national security risks. John Tanaka was born and raised in Juneau. In 1942 John was going to be the Valedictorian of his high school graduating class but was scheduled to be interned before the graduation ceremony. In response, the school board voted to hold a special early graduation ceremony for him before John was sent to a relocation camp for Japanese Americans. When the official graduation ceremony was held for the class of '42 they set aside an empty chair on the platform ... Written by Greg Chaney
　　电影讲述了居住在阿拉斯加的美籍日本移民于二战期间被投入集中营和监狱的故事。 片名叫做Empty Chair是因为片中的一位日本少年被推选为当地一所高中的荣誉毕业生，却在毕业前夕被押送至集中营，于是想念他的同学和老师们在典礼现场放上了一张空椅子，来表示对他的怀念。