A selection of photographer Shane Sato’s powerful portraits of Japanese American veterans of World War II will be showcased in The Joe W. and Dorothy D. Brown Foundation Special Exhibit Gallery at The National WWII Museum from June 30, 2023, through March 31, 2024. Supplemented with artifacts and oral histories from the Museum’s collection, The Go for Broke Spirit: Legacy in Portraits explores the selfless service, profound patriotism, and enduring legacy of the Japanese American men and women who persevered in the face of prejudice and incarceration, and risked their lives to advance the Allied effort.
Sato’s first-of-its-kind portrait series features Japanese American WWII veterans who served with the segregated 442nd Regimental Combat Team and its component unit, the 100th Infantry Battalion; with the Women’s Army Corps (WAC); or as translators and interpreters with the Military Intelligence Service (MIS). They fought gallantly alongside their compatriots, even as the US government forcibly relocated more than 100,000 people of Japanese descent—most of them American-born citizens—to domestic incarceration camps. As a Japanese American himself, Sato saw in his work an invaluable opportunity to “carry the torch” of his forebears and use his talents to tell their unique stories and shared experiences.
Through these personal stories and artifacts, The Go for Broke Spirit: Legacy in Portraits examines the exclusion and incarceration of thousands of people of Japanese descent in the United States, in the wake of Pearl Harbor through Executive Order 9066, as well as Japanese Americans’ continued patriotism despite discrimination, delving into their military training and missions. The exhibit also explores the postwar lives and legacy of Japanese American veterans, many of whom received belated recognition of their wartime valor and loyalty.
During World War II, “Go for Broke” served as the motto for the 100th/442nd, which lived up to those words and remains the most decorated unit for its size and length of service in US Army history, a long-standing testament to the soldiers’ fierce patriotism and many sacrifices in service of their country. These veterans’ “Go for Broke” spirit is captured in Sato’s portraits—which range from serious to spirited, somber to stoic—highlighting the distinct personalities and stories of these men and women who, once deemed second-class citizens, risked everything to fight for their country and collectively changed how many viewed the Japanese American community.
Shane Sato is a professional photographer based in Los Angeles, California. His project to capture the moving portraits of Nisei WWII veterans began over two decades ago, culminating in a set of coffee table books, The Go For Broke Spirit: Portraits of Courage and The Go For Broke Spirit: Portraits of Legacy, featuring photographs of more than 150 Japanese American veterans.
Support for this exhibit comes from Catherine and David Edwards.
Explore The Campus
Museum Campus Guide-
Louisiana Memorial Pavilion
The Louisiana Memorial Pavilion exhibits take visitors into the monumental efforts on the Home Front and to the beaches of Normandy—focusing on the thousands of men and women who made Allied victory in World War II possible.
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Campaigns of Courage
In a war where the terrain was as deadly as the enemy, this pavilion tells the story of American servicemembers abroad—and how they overcame unprecedented challenges on multiple fronts to win victory in World War II. In over 19,000 square feet of exhibit space, two extraordinary exhibitions bring visitors inside the epic story of the war in its most infamous settings, bringing to life jungles, beaches, mountains, and oceans in 19 immersive galleries.
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Solomon Victory Theater
The Solomon Victory Theater is home to Beyond All Boundaries, a 4D cinematic experience produced exclusively for The National WWII Museum by Tom Hanks—who narrates the film—and Phil Hettema.
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Hall of Democracy
The Hall of Democracy represents the center of the Museum’s expanding educational outreach initiatives—providing a space that will enable the institution to share its collections, oral histories, research, and expertise with audiences across the world.
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US Freedom Pavilion
In World War II—the war that changed the world—freedom hung in the balance. Americans answered the call to protect that freedom with 16 million men and women serving in uniform and an untold number of citizens of all ages doing their part on the Home Front. In US Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center, we honor their contributions.
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The Higgins Hotel & Conference Center
The official Hotel of The National WWII Museum, this stunning art-deco style property offers first-class accommodations, meeting spaces, and dining options providing a sophisticated lodging experience for guests.
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John E. Kushner Restoration Pavilion
The John E. Kushner Restoration Pavilion will offer up-close looks at WWII macro-artifacts, including the Museum’s patrol torpedo boat, PT-305, which returned to campus in 2022. The Pavilion also houses the STEM Innovation Gallery, a vibrant educational space for students and teachers alike that shows how science, technology, engineering, and math contributed—and advanced—in World War II.
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Founders Plaza
Founders Plaza creates an impressive entryway to the Museum campus, safe passage for Museum guests, and a pleasant setting for rest and reflection as part of the visitor experience.
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Bollinger Canopy of Peace
The soaring Bollinger Canopy of Peace, set to stand 150 feet tall, will unify the Museum's diverse campus and establish the Museum as a fixture on the New Orleans skyline.
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Liberation Pavilion
Three building levels will explore the closing months of the war and immediate postwar years, concluding with an explanation of links to our lives today.
