ROHWER
HEISHIRO OTANI
Born February 26 1912
Died August 4 1998
Birth Location Tokyo, Japan
Heishiro Otani of Palos Verdes, California, was a prolific woodcarver. His career spanning over fifty-five years began in the Rohwer concentration camp, Arkansas, during World War II. At this camp, he met and became fascinated by artists, Henry Sugimoto’s painting and drawings, and with the woodcarvings by Harry Genji Koizumi. Prior to being moved to the camp, Heishiro Otani was a farmer in the Torrance, CA area. The rough life of a farmer and being sent to a camp only deepened his skills in arts and his deep Buddhistic sense of compassion. Heishiro Otani used his woodcarving to express his emotions through the flowers, temples, ocean waves, ships, and the many Buddhistic sculptures and wood panels (three-door panels). Many of the woodcarvings were created from discarded ends of fruit boxes, railroad ties, or even telephone poles. Wood was given a second life as it was transformed into skilled carvings and seven foot sculptures showing deep emotions in the carving’s details of butterflies on flowers, the flow of the clothing lines, and gentle facial expressions. His home became a quasi-museum filled with his work. If you visited his home, you will be immediately greeted by double front doors carved with intricate floral patterns and then stepping into the foyer, there is a six foot Jizo Bosattsu standing next to a table with Japanese gods and goddesses. The walls are covered with huge wood carved panels and each room is a showcase of art. We are no longer able to talk to Heishiro Otani but his woodcarvings and artistry still speaks to us. Heishiro Otani and his wife Chisato were members of the Gardena Buddhist Church. Heishiro Otani dedicated many of his work pieces to family, temples, and institutions. His collective works are part of his estate. He never wanted to sell or financially profit from his impressive work, and often would give or do a wood carving for anybody. His children, Keiko Otani and Joji Otani, estate executors, understood his intentions and gladly followed their father’s wishes by donating and sharing his artwork in hopes that others will enjoy and find personal meaning
from them.
Courtesy of Diana Ono
Camellias
Maker Otani, Heishiro
Date February 19, 1943
Medium driftwood
Dimensions H: 4.75 in, W: 14 in, D: .81 in
Heishiro Otani’s first wood sculpture. Created under the tutelage of Harry Genji Koizumi at Rohwer concentration camp.
Gift of Keiko Otani to Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute.
Photo courtesy of Alvin Takamori
Maker Otani, Heishiro
Date February 19, 1943
Medium driftwood
Dimensions H: 4.75 in, W: 14 in, D: .81 in
Heishiro Otani’s first wood sculpture. Created under the tutelage of Harry Genji Koizumi at Rohwer concentration camp.
Gift of Keiko Otani to Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute.
Photo courtesy of Alvin Takamori
Entry Door
Maker Otani, Heishiro
Medium wood
Wood carved front door of Otani residence in Palos Verdes.
Photo courtesy of Alvin Takamori
Maker Otani, Heishiro
Medium wood
Wood carved front door of Otani residence in Palos Verdes.
Photo courtesy of Alvin Takamori
Dragon
Maker Otani, Heishiro
Date September, 1988
Medium wood
Dimensions H: 42 in, W: 26.75 in, D: 1.5 in
Gift of Keiko Otani to Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute.
Photo courtesy of Alvin Takamori
Maker Otani, Heishiro
Date September, 1988
Medium wood
Dimensions H: 42 in, W: 26.75 in, D: 1.5 in
Gift of Keiko Otani to Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute.
Photo courtesy of Alvin Takamori
Fish
Maker Otani, Heishiro
Date 1944
Medium wood
Dimensions H: 11.25in, W: 18 in, D: 1.5 in
Wood carving of a fish, created at Rowher concentration camp.
Gift of Keiko Otani to Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute.
Photo courtesy of Alvin Takamori
Maker Otani, Heishiro
Date 1944
Medium wood
Dimensions H: 11.25in, W: 18 in, D: 1.5 in
Wood carving of a fish, created at Rowher concentration camp.
Gift of Keiko Otani to Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute.
Photo courtesy of Alvin Takamori
Lamp Base
Maker Otani, Heishiro
Date 1943-1945
Medium wood
Dimensions H: 24 in, W: 12 in
Wood carved lamp base, created at Rohwer concentration camp.
Gift of Keiko Otani to Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute.
Photo courtesy of Alvin Takamori
Maker Otani, Heishiro
Date 1943-1945
Medium wood
Dimensions H: 24 in, W: 12 in
Wood carved lamp base, created at Rohwer concentration camp.
Gift of Keiko Otani to Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute.
Photo courtesy of Alvin Takamori
Landscape with Torii Gate
Maker Otani, Heishiro
Date 1944 (Koki 2604)
Medium wood
Dimensions H: 28.125 in, W: 12.75 in, D: 2.06 in
Wood carving of a landscape with a torii gate, created at Rohwer concentration camp.
Gift of Keiko Otani to Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute.
Photo courtesy of Alvin Takamori
Maker Otani, Heishiro
Date 1944 (Koki 2604)
Medium wood
Dimensions H: 28.125 in, W: 12.75 in, D: 2.06 in
Wood carving of a landscape with a torii gate, created at Rohwer concentration camp.
Gift of Keiko Otani to Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute.
Photo courtesy of Alvin Takamori
Pagoda
Maker Otani, Heishiro
Date July 1991
Medium wood
Wood panel carving of a pagoda, at the Otani residence.
Photo courtesy of Alvin Takamori
Maker Otani, Heishiro
Date July 1991
Medium wood
Wood panel carving of a pagoda, at the Otani residence.
Photo courtesy of Alvin Takamori
LASTING BEAUTY: Rohwer Auditorium Murals
Exhibition featuring murals painted by Japanese American students at Rohwer High School under the direction of art teacher Mabel Rose Jamison Vogel. Lasting Beauty was one of eight exhibitions mounted in and around Little Rock, Arkansas, as part of the Life Interrupted project in 2004. It was later shown at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles in 2005.
Mabel Rose Jamison Vogel (1906–94) was an artist and art teacher for most of her life. Arriving at Rohwer in January 1943, she arrived to find her classroom devoid of desks, chairs, and art supplies. She nonetheless immersed herself in her work and became a favorite among inmate students. When the inmate Public Works Division requested murals for the new Rohwer auditorium, "Miss Jamison" (she married G.I. Herbert Vogel while she was at Rohwer) set her students up for the task. They decided to tell the story of their forced removal and incarceration through the mural project, with the students painting eight 4 x 16 foot murals on beaver board with tempera paint. The eight included "December 7th" by Mac Kinoshita, "Evacuation" by Teruyo Kishi, "Assembly Centers" by Mary Ihara, "To Rohwer" by Nobi Tanimoto, "The New Home" by Kik Toyofuku, "Community Life" by Michi Tanaka, "Center Occupations" by Motohiko Hori, and "Relocation" by Arthur Okusu. These were displayed in the auditorium, with four each on the east and west walls. But when the camp closed, the murals along with most of the rest of the camp were lost to history. Vogel remained at Rohwer until it closed. She continued to work as an art teacher for many years afterwards in New York and Cleveland.
Authored by Brian Niiya , Densho
Mabel Rose Jamison Vogel (1906–94) was an artist and art teacher for most of her life. Arriving at Rohwer in January 1943, she arrived to find her classroom devoid of desks, chairs, and art supplies. She nonetheless immersed herself in her work and became a favorite among inmate students. When the inmate Public Works Division requested murals for the new Rohwer auditorium, "Miss Jamison" (she married G.I. Herbert Vogel while she was at Rohwer) set her students up for the task. They decided to tell the story of their forced removal and incarceration through the mural project, with the students painting eight 4 x 16 foot murals on beaver board with tempera paint. The eight included "December 7th" by Mac Kinoshita, "Evacuation" by Teruyo Kishi, "Assembly Centers" by Mary Ihara, "To Rohwer" by Nobi Tanimoto, "The New Home" by Kik Toyofuku, "Community Life" by Michi Tanaka, "Center Occupations" by Motohiko Hori, and "Relocation" by Arthur Okusu. These were displayed in the auditorium, with four each on the east and west walls. But when the camp closed, the murals along with most of the rest of the camp were lost to history. Vogel remained at Rohwer until it closed. She continued to work as an art teacher for many years afterwards in New York and Cleveland.
Authored by Brian Niiya , Densho
Rohwer concentration camp, McGehee, Arkansas. Shown beside the Mural he painted for the Auditorium at the Rohwer Relocation Center is Mac Kinoshita. This mural was painted of December 7, 1941.
5/1944
National Archives Identifier: 539586 Local Identifier: 210-G-G757
5/1944
National Archives Identifier: 539586 Local Identifier: 210-G-G757
Rohwer concentration camp, McGehee, Arkansas. Shown here beside her Mural depicting "Evacuation" is Miss Teruyo Kishi.
5/1944
National Archives Identifier: 539587 Local Identifier: 210-G-G758
5/1944
National Archives Identifier: 539587 Local Identifier: 210-G-G758
Rohwer concentration camp, McGehee, Arkansas. This mural depicting an "assembly center" was painted by Mary Ihara, who is seen beside the picture.
5/1944
National Archives Identifier: 539588 Local Identifier: 210-G-G759
5/1944
National Archives Identifier: 539588 Local Identifier: 210-G-G759
Rohwer concentration camp, McGehee, Arkansas. "To Rohwer," a mural painted by Nobi Tanimoto, who may be seen standing in front of the picture.
5/1944
National Archives Identifier: 539589 Local Identifier: 210-G-G760
5/1944
National Archives Identifier: 539589 Local Identifier: 210-G-G760
Rohwer concentration camp, McGehee, Arkansas. Seated in front of this mural depiction "The New Home" is Kik Toyofuku, the painter.
5/1944
National Archives Identifier: 539590 Local Identifier: NWDNS-210-G-G761
5/1944
National Archives Identifier: 539590 Local Identifier: NWDNS-210-G-G761
Rohwer concentration camp, McGehee, Arkansas. "Community Life," a mural painted by Michi Tanaka who is standing in front of the picture.
5/1944
National Archives Identifier: 539591 Local Identifier: 210-G-G762
5/1944
National Archives Identifier: 539591 Local Identifier: 210-G-G762
Rohwer concentration camp, McGehee, Arkansas. "Center Occupations," a mural by Motohiko Hori, who is standing at the right of the picture.
5/1944
National Archives Identifier: 539592 Local Identifier: 210-G-G763
5/1944
National Archives Identifier: 539592 Local Identifier: 210-G-G763
Rohwer concentration camp, McGehee, Arkansas. A mural depicting "Relocation" by Arthur Okusu.
5/1944
National Archives Identifier: 539593 Local Identifier: 210-G-G764
5/1944
National Archives Identifier: 539593 Local Identifier: 210-G-G764
Special thanks to:
Densho
The National Archives
Diana Ono
Keiko Otani
Alvin Takamori, GVJCI Day of Remembrance committee member
Densho
The National Archives
Diana Ono
Keiko Otani
Alvin Takamori, GVJCI Day of Remembrance committee member