Dedication of the Japantown Monument at Winter’s Community Center, Rotary Park, Winters.

Rotary Park, nestled in the heart of Winters, California, is a quaint yet vibrant outdoor sanctuary that captures the essence of community and nature. Spanning across a modest expanse, the park boasts a serene atmosphere, inviting visitors to unwind amidst its lush greenery and tranquil surroundings. With winding pathways meandering through the park, it offers ample space for leisurely strolls or invigorating jogs, allowing individuals to reconnect with nature and rejuvenate their spirits.


Photo & Article © Provided by Woodland The Daily Democrat

May 4, 2024
The Japantown memorial was unveiled Saturday, May 4 in Rotary Park in Winters.

The first Japanese immigrants came to Winters in 1888 looking to provide a better life for their families. This first generation, the Issei, mainly worked as farmers, laborers and horticulturists with many families living on farms just outside Winters.

Within the city limits, Japanese families were only allowed to live or have businesses within “Block 4” which eventually led to the growth of Japantown, located northeast of the prominent railroad bridge in Winters.

By the 1930s, Japantown was home to a thriving community of 300 residents which included the Issei and the U.S.-born Nisei generation.

However, the vibrant community was cruelly torn apart following the onset of WWII and the bombing of Pearl Harbor. With the issuance of Executive Order 9066, the federal government sent all persons of Japanese ancestry to incarceration camps. Those in the Winters area were sent to camps in Gila River, Arizona and Amache, Colorado.

Following V-J Day in 1945, anti-Japanese sentiments were at an all-time high and the Japantown of Winters was torched to the ground in a “suspicious fire.” Feeling unwelcome, many Japanese families chose not to come home to Winters. Less than 15% of the pre-war population returned.

“It sent out this negative feeling that it would be dangerous to come back to Winters and maybe we wouldn’t be welcomed there,” explained Floyd Shimomura, whose family was part of the original Japantown. “We can think about the negative but 15% did come back because there were some good people here in Winters who went against public opinion and invited the Japanese back. That’s why people like myself and others did come back.”

Exactly 100 years after the first Japanese immigrants arrived in Winters, the federal government apologized and granted reparations to those who were unjustly incarcerated under the Civil Liberties Act of 1988.

Decades later, the city of Winters continued to honor the Japanese community with The Lost Japanese Community of Winters exhibit at the Winters Museum and the memorial dedication for Japantown.

“Based on its size and length of service, the 442nd was the most decorated unit in U.S. military history,” Hiramatsu said. “The military intelligence service is credited with saving countless American lives and shortening the war by collecting valuable intelligence through the interrogation of captured Japanese soldiers and the translation of intercepted war documents.

“Many of our fathers and uncles served in the 442nd and many of them were decorated for their valor in loyalty and sacrifice. On their behalf, thank you very much for this memorial.”

At the end of the program and with a lucky break in the relentless rain, the large crowd migrated outside for the unveiling of the monument in Rotary Park under sunny, blue skies.

“This monument is one step towards reconciliation and healing of past discrimination in this city and our country,” Biasi said. “Recognizing this once vibrant Japanese community was a part of ours will hopefully further that reconciliation forward to the next generation.”

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