"In this place of sadness, injustice and pain,
we will do something joyful, righteous and healing.
We will play baseball."
ABOUT
The Manzanar Baseball Project is a compelling sport-meets-art initiative spearheaded by Great Leap’s Associate Artistic Director, Dan Kwong, dedicated to preserving the history and legacy of wartime baseball in the Japanese American internment camp located in the high desert of California near Death Valley.
Composed of two major components, the field restoration and a day of cultural celebration, the project aims to shed light on the profound significance of baseball as a symbol of resilience, cultural identity and community spirit in the face of injustice.
Through meticulous research, oral and written histories, archival materials, and partnerships with descendants, community members and the National Park Service, the Manzanar Baseball Project seeks to uplift the experiences and stories of incarcerated Japanese Americans who found a way to play the game they loved in spite of their unjust incarceration during WWII.
By exploring this vital chapter of American history, the project not only honors the past but also fosters understanding, empathy, and dialogue about social justice, civil liberties, and the enduring human spirit. The project itself is a tribute to the determination of the Japanese American community to live life as fully as possible, no matter what.
9066 & BASEBALL
Executive Order 9066, signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on February 19, 1942, stands as a stark reminder of a dark chapter in American history. This executive order authorized the forced relocation and internment of over 120,000 Japanese Americans, as well as Japanese nationals, during World War II.
Fueled by fear and wartime hysteria following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the order resulted in the mass incarceration of innocent individuals solely based on their ethnicity. Families were uprooted from their homes, businesses were lost, and communities were shattered as individuals were forcibly relocated to hastily constructed internment camps across the United States.
Located 230 miles north of Los Angeles and west of Death Valley, Manzanar was the first of ten government concentration camps built to hold Japanese Americans who were forcibly removed from their homes under Executive Order 9066. Initially intended as a temporary detention center, Manzanar eventually held 10,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry (of a total 120,000 people incarcerated) throughout the duration of the war.
Japanese Americans have been passionate about baseball for well over a century, and even through wartime incarceration their passion remained strong. Despite the harsh conditions and loss of freedom, the incarcerees at Manzanar cultivated a vibrant community, sustaining hope and dignity amidst adversity. Of all sports played in the camps, baseball was by far the most popular, playing a crucial role in keeping spirit alive for incarcerated Japanese Americans.
During this time the National Pastime took on powerful symbolic meaning for Japanese Americans and the baseball field became a sacred space to enact an American ritual.
In the words of Manzanar incarceree Takeo Suo:
"Putting on a baseball uniform was like wearing the American flag."
Following the war’s end, the site was gradually dismantled. In 1992, Manzanar was designated a National Historic Site, a testament to the resilience and perseverance of those who were unjustly incarcerated.
Today, the Manzanar National Historic Site serves as a place of education, reflection, and healing, ensuring that the lessons of the past are never forgotten.
Meet the Project Director!
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Dan Kwong, Project Director
Associate Artistic Director, Great Leap Inc
Dan Kwong is an award-winning multifaceted artist (and lifelong athlete) whose work spans across various mediums including theater, performance art, writing, and film. With a career spanning several decades, Dan Kwong has established himself as a prominent figure in the Asian American arts scene and is celebrated for his innovative approach to storytelling.
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Dan’s work is known for deeply personal narratives that explore themes of identity, culture, and belonging. Through his performances, Kwong has challenged stereotypes and shed light on the complexity of the Asian American experience.
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Dan's mother and her family were incarcerated at the so-called “Manzanar Relocation Center” from 1942 to 1945. His mother's wartime experiences instilled in him a sense of social justice at an early age. As a result, the subject of Japanese American WWII internment has been featured in several of his theatrical works, bringing attention to a chapter of civil rights history still unknown to many Americans.
Dan has volunteered on restoration projects at Manzanar since 2007, including Merritt Park garden, the apple orchard, and beginning in May 2023, the baseball field. His late-mother was also deeply involved with Manzanar, being interviewed for their oral history library, volunteering to correspond with visiting students, and donating one of her weavings.
In addition to his career as an artist and activist, Dan has played baseball in the Nisei Athletic
Union (N.A.U.) Japanese American baseball leagues of California since 1971. His 52-years-and-counting with the Li'l Tokio Giants is considered the longest career in N.A.U. baseball history.
The Manzanar Baseball Project uniquely combines Dan's lifelong interests and passions as
artist, athlete, and community activist. His goal is for the Project to become an annual tradition that combines sport and art to elevate Japanese American history and culture, honor social justice, and celebrate the beauty of baseball.
"In this place of sadness and pain, we will do something beautiful and inspiring."
~ the spirit of Japanese Americans in camp, and the spirit of The Manzanar Baseball Project
Dan Kwong serves as Associate Artistic Director of the multicultural performing arts
organization Great Leap, Inc.
Manzanar Baseball Project is a project of Great Leap, Inc.