Naomi Ostwald Kawamura: Dreaming of Histories That Heal

Dreaming in Color

Welcome to Dreaming in Color, a show hosted by Darren Isom, a partner with The Bridgespan Group, that provides a space for social change leaders of color to reflect on how their life experiences, personal and professional, have prepared them to lead and drive the impact we all seek.

In this episode, we sit down with Naomi Ostwald Kawamura, the Executive Director of Densho, an organization devoted to documenting the testimonies of Japanese Americans who were unjustly incarcerated during World War II. Naomi has a rich background, with a BFA in Metal Design from the University of Washington, a Master’s in Education from Harvard, and a PhD from the University of British Columbia, where she studied the intergenerational transfer of memory in Japanese-American and Japanese-Canadian communities. Before Densho, she led the Nikkei Place Foundation and held key roles at the San Diego History Center and the California Center for the Arts. Naomi is passionate about addressing the challenges faced by community history organizations, especially concerning the legacy of Japanese American WWII incarceration, and has shared her insights in various publications, including an upcoming book on ethnic diversity and national identity in history education.

Join this conversation as Naomi explores themes of heritage, resilience, and storytelling. She discusses her upbringing as the daughter of Japanese immigrants in California and her parents' encouragement to embrace both her Japanese and American identities. Naomi shares her family's history, including her father and grandfather's survival of the American atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 and emphasizes the importance of making history relevant for younger generations. Listen as she highlights the challenges of preserving oral histories, the role of technology in accessibility, and the power of art in conveying complex emotions and histories.

This is Dreaming In Color.

Jump Straight Into:

(00:22.2) Introduction of Naomi Ostwald Kawamura, Executive Director of Densho.

(01:37.9) Naomi reflects on an inspirational visit to the Meiji Jingu Shrine.

(02:45.7) Naomi discusses her roots and the immigration story of her parents.

(06:07.2) Naomi connects her history to the bombing of Hiroshima.

(07:52.6) Being a light in the darkness: Naomi shares how her family’s history inspires her work.

(12:15.6) Naomi dives into memory research and discusses collecting stories from diverse perspectives to honor and preserve each viewpoint, thereby creating comprehensive historical narratives.

Episode Resources:

• Connect with Naomi through LinkedIn.
• Learn more about Densho through their website.
• Read Naomi’s interview with Densho here.
• Read Naomi’s Densho article “Building Community and Connection that Transcends Borders” here.
• Watch Naomi’s town hall on community and connections here.
• August 6th and 9th, 2024, mark the 79th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This New York Times Op-Ed presents survivor testimonies and underscores the significance of Naomi’s work in preserving these histories.