The lesson, he hopes, is simple yet profound.

“Learn from the story and live by the motto,” said Clarence Moriwaki, president of the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Community.

Next week, Bainbridge Islanders will join with distinguished guests from across the region and beyond — including Gov. Jay Inslee and the Japanese Ambassador to the United States Kenichiro Sasae — to mark the 75th anniversary of the first forced removal of Japanese Americans in World War II.

The Bainbridge Island Japanese American Community is joining with the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial Association, the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art and the Bainbridge Island Historical Museum in hosting a day-long series of free events on Thursday, March 30 to honor the 120,000 Japanese Americans who were forcibly exiled from the West Coast during World War II.

Bainbridge Island was home to the first Japanese Americans who were swept up in the removal, and the events are also being held to recognize the unique legacy of the Bainbridge community that stood by their Japanese American friends and neighbors and eventually welcomed them home.

The theme of the event is “Nidoto Nai Yoni – Let It Not Happen Again,” the message that is shared by the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial.

Not only is the event especially meaningful because of the 75th anniversary, but it’s become timely, as well, given the current political climate and discussions of “Muslim bans,” nationalism and xenophobia, Moriwaki said.

“The one thing that’s becoming clear ever since the election: The country’s taken a turn toward the kind of atmosphere that existed 75 years ago; to characterize individuals, and in this case, entire religions, just out of fear and intolerance,” Moriwaki said.

The message that the commemoration hopes to send, he said, is one of hope. But it’s also a call to action.

“The community has lived this story. We’ve seen this movie before,” he added.