THE EMPTY CHAIR 2014

Capital School Park, Juneau, AK


Memorial to Japanese and Japanese Americans from Juneau who were interned during World War II.
Inspired by the story of Juneau High School Class Valedictorian, John Tanaka and his family who were imprisoned prior to his 1942 graduation ceremony. In his place, his classmates placed an empty chair to represent him and the loss they felt at the forced removal of their friends and neighbors. The bronze chair, modeled after a folding wooden chair of the period, is approximately one and a half times life size.
The Empty Chair was recognized in 2014 by the Americans for the Arts – Public Art Network - Year-in-Review as one of the year’s outstanding public art projects nationwide.

The Empty Chair Committee and ​the City and Borough of Juneau

The bronze chair, modeled after a folding wooden chair of the period, is approximately one and a half times life size.

The bronze chair, modeled after a folding wooden chair of the period, is approximately one and a half times life size.

The names of 53 internees are etched into the bronze floor along with the Japanese kanji symbol for Peace.

The names of 53 internees are etched into the bronze floor along with the Japanese kanji symbol for Peace.

Narrative text tells the story of the Japanese and Japanese Americans forced to leave their homes following the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941.

Narrative text tells the story of the Japanese and Japanese Americans forced to leave their homes following the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941.

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