Go For Broke National Education Center

Since 1989, the Go For Broke Monument has been a striking reminder of the courage, patriotism, and sacrifice of the over 33,000 American men and women of Japanese ancestry who served during World War II. Learn more about the Nisei veterans’ vision to set their story as an important American story of courage, community, service, equality, and civil liberties.

🎙️ Sierra Katow

The Go For Broke Plaza & First Street North Residences stand as a successful public, private, and nonprofit model for other communities to replicate. Thanks to the efforts of our partner Little Tokyo Service Center, 248 affordable housing units, retail and commercial space, and a permanent home for Go For Broke National Education Center will now be a vibrant part of the expanded Little Tokyo footprint.

For over three decades, our founding Nisei veterans envisioned an interpretive center adjacent to the Go For Broke Monument. Slated for completion in late 2026, the project provides vital programming space and partnership opportunities so that we can continue to inspire local and national audiences about the contributions of the Nisei WWII soldiers to our democracy. Learn more about our work at goforbroke.org

🎙️ Sierra Katow

WWII Japanese American veteran Tokuji “T**e” Yoshihashi talks about his brother being sent to Cannon Company so that they wouldn’t both be on the frontline. He also shares his father and mother’s reactions to their sons being drafted to the 442nd.

Hear more from T**e, including his recollections of Camp Blanding, Florida, at Go For Broke National Education Center’s traveling exhibition “Courage and Compassion” at Morikami Museum through August 30! His story, and those of other 442nd servicemen from Florida, are highlighted alongside the exhibition. Experience the stories of Japanese Americans from WWII, alongside community stories of bravery and integrity by American citizens who supported Japanese Americans during the time of crisis.

Did you know the Military Intelligence Service people couldn’t talk about their work for 50 years after WWII? Yosh tells Torchbearer Juli Yoshinaga about the contributions of the MIS.

442nd RCT Nisei veteran Yosh Nakamura talks to Torchbearer Juli Yoshinaga about how the unit broke through the Gothic Line in the Italian Campaign in April 1945.

442nd RCT Nisei veteran Yosh Nakamura recounts capturing N**i soldiers at the outposts and learning the enemy had run out of ammunition. Holding the high ground but low on supplies, the Germans didn’t spot the 442nd moving through the Po Valley below in time, opening the door for Allied troops to push forward.

Far Bar's Don Tahara on Robert Vargas mural that revitalized First Street.

This year’s National Torchbearer Spring Convening, held April 16-19 in Little Tokyo, centered on the framework of “Story of Self, Us, and Now,” grounded in the belief that learning to tell one’s own story is a foundational step in civic engagement. Thanks to business owner Don Tahara for sharing stories about the Little Tokyo community!