The centrepiece of the exhibit was a long, curved samurai sword that Nagasawa brought back from Japan when he returned to visit as an adult. "That sword was important to Nagasawa because when they left for America, they had to cut their hair and give up their swords," said Mary Ijichi, Nagasawa"s great-grandniece. "But my father told me his uncle said, "Our education will be our sword"."