Nihon Shōgakkō was a Japanese language school in Sacramento, California, serving the local Japanese immigrant community. On April 15, 1923, a fire was deliberately set at the school by a serial arsonist, who harbored deep-seated racial animus against people of Japanese descent. The inferno resulted in the tragic deaths of ten children, who were either students or nearby when the flames engulfed the building. The arsonist's motives were rooted in the widespread racism that was prevalent at the time, as anti-Asian sentiment had been on the rise in the United States following both World War I and the establishment of restrictive immigration policies.The incident sent shockwaves through the local and larger Asian American communities, who were already facing discrimination and violence. The Japanese American community rallied in response, seeking justice and support for the victims' families. There was a significant public outcry against the crime, emphasizing the need for greater protection of minority communities and highlighting the dangers of racially motivated violence. The fire and its aftermath forced a broader dialogue about racial prejudice in America, leading to increased advocacy for civil rights among immigrant groups.In the years following the tragedy, the incident was commemorated by community events aimed at fostering understanding and reconciliation. Furthermore, it became part of the narrative surrounding the hardships faced by Japanese Americans, particularly as World War II approached and the specter of internment loomed. The legacy of this tragic fire continued to resonate across generations, shaping the ongoing struggle against racial injustice and for civil rights.