The WWIICW Youth Group with WWIICW leaders. Standing from left: Sophia Muratsuchi, WWIICW President Nancy Hayata, Quetzel Colunga, Yuta Takahashi; seated: project founder Kanji Sahara.

The City of Torrance looks forward to breaking ground on the World War II Camp Wall (WWIICW) monument in June 2025.

Public information events are being planned by the project’s advisory committee, and dates will soon be announced.

The design and construction management firm of Chee Salette was approved by the Torrance City Council to create the monument, which will be located at Columbia Park in Torrance.

Two local high school students, Yuta Takahashi and Sophia Muratsuchi, have formed a WWIICW Youth Group in order to get high school and college students involved in the project. The students are currently working on a documentary short about the monument.

WWIICW President, Nancy Hayata states, “I’m so excited to see Kanji Sahara’s vision of this monument coming to fruition.”

The nonprofit WWIICW board continues to raise awareness for the project. A priority is the development of educational information that will be added to the park to enhance the visitor experience at the monument.

Additionally, the committee is developing a live and virtual educational component, and is actively fundraising donations to support these efforts.

For more information, visit wwiicampwall.org.