As light-hearted, magical, and simple as the beloved shows and books of one’s childhood may seem, children’s media reflects a person’s very first introduction to the vast world of ideas and stories outside of their own little bubble. Therefore, the types of media children are exposed to can have a crucial impact on their perceptions of themselves and the world for years to come. Not only does exposure to other tales increase vital skills such as creativity, but interpersonal skills also grow as they learn to understand and accept others’ perspectives. As children’s author-illustrator Sharon Fujimoto-Johnson describes it, “Perhaps empathy begins in understanding that the world is larger than one’s own personal lived experiences.”

It is with this belief that her newest story, Shell Song, was created. Rooted in personal family history, Fujimoto-Johnson shares the tale of her grandfather, simultaneously raising much-needed awareness toward one side of the complicated Japanese American experience during World War II.

Sharon Fujimoto-Johnson’s life has always involved acknowledging those who came before her and a passion for creative expression, making Shell Song appear to be the perfect project of a long time coming. Born in California as a Yonsei but raised partially in Yokohama, she prides herself on having grown up in a mix of Japanese American and Japanese culture. At around 10 years old, Fujimoto-Johnson recalls inheriting the shells of her grandfather’s collection, and with them, a newfound understanding of the deep meaning and connection the seemingly ordinary objects brought within her family. While she may have had a hunch, little did she know these shells would eventually manifest themselves into a formal publication of her grandfather’s story to share with children of generations to come.

It was also around these years that she became certain that writing would be her future. Because her grandmother was also a wonderful storyteller and poet, Fujimoto-Johnson remarks, “I’d like to think that storytelling is a family inheritance and that I am just one of the voices sharing my family’s stories. I hope that the next generation will continue this storytelling in their own way.”

While she never knew her grandfather personally, Fujimoto-Johnson’s extensive research on his story, as well as on the surrounding general history, has culminated in the educational yet engaging and entertaining story that is Shell Song. While the primary roots that laid the basis for the story have always been present, another notable factor contributing to Shell Song’s creation comes from an inspiring visit to the Japanese American National Museum and its past exhibition on Allen Say, who likewise utilized family history as inspiration for art. Shell Song tells the true story of an American-born citizen incarcerated at Honouliuli and Sand Island during World War II, whose shell collecting became a passion to help pass the time and take away some of the sorrows that came with being unjustly incarcerated due to his ethnicity.

While many Americans may have an idea of Japanese American treatment during the war due to the extensive, widely publicized history of Executive Order 9066, such history only applies to the Japanese American community of the West Coast. Therefore, the story of Japanese Americans in Hawaii, as observed by Fujimoto-Johnson, is one shrouded in mystery to much of the general public. Shell Song aims to change the lack of awareness by teaching young children the real story, in an engaging way that readers of any age can understand.

Particularly in today’s world, some may argue that the story’s content is inappropriate for children, or perhaps that the story is limited to catering specifically to Japanese American audiences. However, as Fujimoto-Johnson writes, “I believe children deserve stories that address the world they know and don’t know. For some children, war, poverty, injustice, loss, and many other hard topics are real life. These children need stories that validate their lived experiences. And children who do not know these harsh realities themselves need to know the stories of children who do….I think there’s room on shelves—and certainly in readers’ hearts—for books that address ‘difficult’ topics.”

The release of Shell Song coincides with many other events Fujimoto-Johnson is currently involved in. These include an exhibition at the Japanese American Museum of San Jose titled KA-HŌ 家宝 heirloom: the family treasures that connect us, showcasing some of the very shells that Shell Song takes direct inspiration from. Another source of inspiration, Honouliuli National Historic Site, or the area where her grandfather was once incarcerated, now celebrates its 10th anniversary. In commemoration, Fujimoto-Johnson will be making a pilgrimage to Honouliuli to participate in some of the anniversary events this year.

Aside from events having to do with her latest book, Fujimoto-Johnson is also always working on potential future releases, with many ideas continuing to sprout from her personal family history. Taking more influence from family, she also follows in her grandmother’s footsteps in writing poetry. The Gate of Memory is a poetry anthology containing some of her works, many of which are inspired by gardens, art, and children. As Fujimoto-Johnson concludes, “I feel strongly, though, that my family story is just one of the threads in our collective narrative, and I believe one of my responsibilities as a storyteller is to make space for the next generation to claim these stories themselves. I hope that my family’s story, whether in Shell Song, my poems in The Gate of Memory, the museum exhibit, or in my Hawai’i events, will inspire others to also share their family’s heirloom stories.”

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Learn more about Sharon Fujimoto-Johnson at www.sharonfj.com.

© 2025 Chiana Fujiwara