HISTORY REMEMBERED CONFERENCE IN SAN FRANCISCO
Join Us for a Day of Understanding and Dialogue: Presidio Officers Club, San Francisco | September 18th, 2025
Pacific Atrocities Education (PAE), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is proud to host a one-day event at the historic Presidio Officers Club in San Francisco, CA, on September 18th, 2025. This gathering aims to foster understanding, dialogue, and connection among communities impacted by historical events, with a focus on telling untold stories of World War 2.
Who Should Attend?
We warmly invite individuals and organizations from all walks of life to join us in this important conversation. This includes:
This event offers a unique opportunity to engage in thoughtful dialogue, deepen your understanding of historical events, and contribute to ongoing efforts toward reconciliation and peace. By bringing together diverse voices, we aim to create a space where history is not only remembered but also used as a tool for building a more compassionate and peaceful world.
Pacific Atrocities Education (PAE), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is proud to host a one-day event at the historic Presidio Officers Club in San Francisco, CA, on September 18th, 2025. This gathering aims to foster understanding, dialogue, and connection among communities impacted by historical events, with a focus on telling untold stories of World War 2.
Who Should Attend?
We warmly invite individuals and organizations from all walks of life to join us in this important conversation. This includes:
- Bay Area Community Leaders
- Local, National, and International Media
- Historians and Scholars
- Students and Youth Organizations
- Veterans and Their Families
- Anyone interested in learning about the history of Japanese imperial military brutalities during the 20th century
This event offers a unique opportunity to engage in thoughtful dialogue, deepen your understanding of historical events, and contribute to ongoing efforts toward reconciliation and peace. By bringing together diverse voices, we aim to create a space where history is not only remembered but also used as a tool for building a more compassionate and peaceful world.
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Conference Schedule | Starts at 8:00 AM
Join us for a day of insightful discussions and powerful storytelling as we explore the history and legacy of Japanese imperial military actions during the 20th century. Below is a tentative schedule featuring some of our distinguished speakers: History Remembered: Pacific Atrocities Education Program
Date: September 18, 2025
Location: The Presidio, San Francisco
Program Schedule
8:00 AM - Breakfast & Check-in
Begin the day with breakfast and event registration.
8:30 AM - PAE Introduction & Welcome
Pacific Atrocities Education (PAE) provides an overview of the day’s program and its mission to preserve historical memory.
9:00 AM - Dr. Stacey Salinas: Pinay Guerrilleras
Dr. Stacey Salinas discusses the vital roles of Filipina guerrilleras in resisting Japanese occupation during World War II.
9:00 AM - Gabriel Fermin: A Theory of Japanese Fascism
He will briefly examine and compare the socio-political conditions of Fascist Italy and Germany with those of Imperial Japan. He will argue that, contrary to contemporary scholarship, Imperial Japan during World War II unequivocally qualifies as a genuine fascist regime.
10:00 AM - Quin Cho: The Kwantung Army and Japan’s Empire in Manchuria to 1932
Quin Cho examines the Kwantung Army’s actions and introduces his new book, Japan’s Empire in Manchuria to 1932, offering insights into Japan’s imperial ambitions.
11:00 AM - High School Students’ Documentary: Unit 731 & Q&A
High school students, winners of the National History Day at New Mexico State competition, present their documentary on Unit 731, Japan’s notorious biological and chemical warfare unit, followed by a Q&A session.
12:00 PM - Lunch & A Deep Dive into the Digital Archive with SJ Scheidegger
During lunch, Sophie will present how to navigate through our digital archive.
1:00 PM - Jeremy Kuzmarov: The U.S. “Reverse Course” in Japan (1945–1952)
Jeremy Kuzmarov explores the U.S. occupation of Japan’s “reverse course,” a Cold War-driven policy that prioritized anti-communism over democratization. This shift preserved the power of Zaibatsu conglomerates, curtailed economic reforms, and rehabilitated war criminals like Nobusuke Kishi, the “Monster of Showa,” who oversaw slave labor during Japan’s occupation of Manchuria. Through covert CIA funding, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), including figures like Kishi and Yakuza founder Yoshio Kodama, was bolstered, whitewashing Japan’s imperialist past. This enabled Kishi’s grandson, Shinzo Abe, to later downplay wartime atrocities as Japan’s Prime Minister.
1:00 PM - Breakout Session: Dr. Jean B. Chan, Survivor
Join Dr. Jean B. Chan, a survivor, for an intimate discussion of her childhood experiences surviving the Japanese invasion of China.
2:00 PM - Watanabe’s Performance: Confession
Yoshiji Watanabe performs Confession, a powerful piece reflecting on his father’s role in Manchuria during Japan’s invasion.
2:00 PM - Breakout Session: Quin Cho
Engage with Quin Cho for a deeper discussion on their research into the Kwantung Army and Japan’s Empire in Manchuria to 1932.
3:00 PM - Ray Matsumoto: Japanese Propaganda
Ray Matsumoto, author of Echoes of Empire: The Power of Japanese Propaganda, discusses the role of propaganda in advancing Japan’s imperial agenda.
3:00 PM - Breakout Session: Dr. Stacey Salinas
Participate in a focused session with Dr. Stacey Salinas on the legacy of Pinay guerrilleras and their historical impact.
Join us for a day of insightful discussions and powerful storytelling as we explore the history and legacy of Japanese imperial military actions during the 20th century. Below is a tentative schedule featuring some of our distinguished speakers: History Remembered: Pacific Atrocities Education Program
Date: September 18, 2025
Location: The Presidio, San Francisco
Program Schedule
8:00 AM - Breakfast & Check-in
Begin the day with breakfast and event registration.
8:30 AM - PAE Introduction & Welcome
Pacific Atrocities Education (PAE) provides an overview of the day’s program and its mission to preserve historical memory.
9:00 AM - Dr. Stacey Salinas: Pinay Guerrilleras
Dr. Stacey Salinas discusses the vital roles of Filipina guerrilleras in resisting Japanese occupation during World War II.
9:00 AM - Gabriel Fermin: A Theory of Japanese Fascism
He will briefly examine and compare the socio-political conditions of Fascist Italy and Germany with those of Imperial Japan. He will argue that, contrary to contemporary scholarship, Imperial Japan during World War II unequivocally qualifies as a genuine fascist regime.
10:00 AM - Quin Cho: The Kwantung Army and Japan’s Empire in Manchuria to 1932
Quin Cho examines the Kwantung Army’s actions and introduces his new book, Japan’s Empire in Manchuria to 1932, offering insights into Japan’s imperial ambitions.
11:00 AM - High School Students’ Documentary: Unit 731 & Q&A
High school students, winners of the National History Day at New Mexico State competition, present their documentary on Unit 731, Japan’s notorious biological and chemical warfare unit, followed by a Q&A session.
12:00 PM - Lunch & A Deep Dive into the Digital Archive with SJ Scheidegger
During lunch, Sophie will present how to navigate through our digital archive.
1:00 PM - Jeremy Kuzmarov: The U.S. “Reverse Course” in Japan (1945–1952)
Jeremy Kuzmarov explores the U.S. occupation of Japan’s “reverse course,” a Cold War-driven policy that prioritized anti-communism over democratization. This shift preserved the power of Zaibatsu conglomerates, curtailed economic reforms, and rehabilitated war criminals like Nobusuke Kishi, the “Monster of Showa,” who oversaw slave labor during Japan’s occupation of Manchuria. Through covert CIA funding, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), including figures like Kishi and Yakuza founder Yoshio Kodama, was bolstered, whitewashing Japan’s imperialist past. This enabled Kishi’s grandson, Shinzo Abe, to later downplay wartime atrocities as Japan’s Prime Minister.
1:00 PM - Breakout Session: Dr. Jean B. Chan, Survivor
Join Dr. Jean B. Chan, a survivor, for an intimate discussion of her childhood experiences surviving the Japanese invasion of China.
2:00 PM - Watanabe’s Performance: Confession
Yoshiji Watanabe performs Confession, a powerful piece reflecting on his father’s role in Manchuria during Japan’s invasion.
2:00 PM - Breakout Session: Quin Cho
Engage with Quin Cho for a deeper discussion on their research into the Kwantung Army and Japan’s Empire in Manchuria to 1932.
3:00 PM - Ray Matsumoto: Japanese Propaganda
Ray Matsumoto, author of Echoes of Empire: The Power of Japanese Propaganda, discusses the role of propaganda in advancing Japan’s imperial agenda.
3:00 PM - Breakout Session: Dr. Stacey Salinas
Participate in a focused session with Dr. Stacey Salinas on the legacy of Pinay guerrilleras and their historical impact.