An executive order changed your publication date

A Japanese American writer’s debut novel is accepted, then an executive order upends his life. What would you do if your life's work was suddenly put on hold?

An executive order changed your publication date

This episode tells the story of Toshio Mori, a nurseryman and writer whose book, Yokohama, California, faced an uncertain future after the attack on Pearl Harbor and the subsequent internment of Japanese Americans. It explores the resilience required to continue creating when the world seems unready for your voice.

Person: Toshio Mori Date: 1941 Location: Oakland, California Event: Japanese American internment Author: William Saroyan

- Toshio Mori, a nurseryman, wrote stories about Japanese American life, earning praise from celebrated authors. - His collection of short stories, Yokohama, California, was accepted for publication with an introduction by William Saroyan. - Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, authorizing the forced removal of Japanese Americans. - Mori and his family were sent to the Topaz War Relocation Center in the Utah desert. - Despite the harsh conditions of the internment camp, Mori continued to write, completing a novel titled Send These the Homeless.

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