On the left, an elderly man in tan shirt and pants wearing geta (a traditional Japanese wooden clog that is worn outdoors) is seated on the front steps of barracks with his head on his left hand while an elderly woman dressed in grey leaning on cane holding a bucket in left hand stands to the right. The face of a young man in army uniform is painted between them. In the barracks window is an image of an American flag over a star and a large "V". In the background, the mess hall and other barracks are visible.

History
"One of the nisei soldiers who willingly enlisted under the draft law came back to say goodbye to his parents in the camp. There was so much to learn from his words in answer to his friends' questions--he said he knew too well that U.S. policy towards Japanese Americans was unreasonable, but he cannot be angry. It is the time to sacrifice and serve...with the hope that risking life may become the driving power to shatter ignorance." (Henry Sugimoto, draft of redress testimony given in 1981)

Inscription
Signed in medium, bottom left corner: H. Sugimoto. Written on back: Old parents are thinking their son/in the battlefield/24" x 19 1/2"

painting
H: 19.75 in, W: 24 in, Frame: 21 x 25 in
canvas
oil

Denson, Ark., 1943
(92.97.4)
Gift of Madeleine Sugimoto and Naomi Tagawa, Japanese American National Museum
Henry Sugimoto Collection

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