George Takei’s Personal History in Japanese Internment Camps Led to His Involvement in ‘The Terror’

At AMC’s 2019 Summit in New York City, George Takei explained why The Terror‘s new saga about Japanese interment camps was so important to him. “When I was five years old, I was classified as an enemy alien in my own country the United States of America,” the iconic actor said.

The second season of The Terror: Infamy moves away from the frozen tundras of Season 1 to focus on the unique hell of America’s Japanese internment camps during World War II. The 10-episode series will specifically center around a Japanese-American community living in Southern California. Originally, showrunner and co-creator Alexander Woo (The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks) asked Takei to be a consultant for the show. However, the Star Trek icon quickly made it clear he wanted to be more involved in the project.

Takei revealed that he and his family were removed from their home in Los Angeles and taken to the swamps of Arkansas in the midst of World War II. He’s part of the last generation that can remember firsthand this horrific moment in American history. “I remember that morning when soldiers with bayonets on them came to our house on Garnet Street,” Takei said during an emotional explanation.

“It was racism. It was hysteria. And a violation of due process,” Takei said. “There was a lot of stress, despondency, and people went insane under these circumstances.”

Takei also opened up about why he was so ready to tackle the difficult role of Yamato-san, a former fishing captain and imprisoned community elder. “This is a compelling story, horrifying story, but also an important and dark chapter in American history,” Takei said. “It’s been my mission in life that the important lesson to be learned from that chapter in American history is not forgotten.”

The Terror: Infamy co-creator Alexander Woo also elaborated on why he first asked Takei to be a consultant. “I much very hoped George would be part of the show, but it’s a very painful experience,” Woo said. “It’s not a given that everyone would want to dive into something as painful as this is.”

The Terror: Infamy will also star Kiki Sukezane,  Naoko Mori, and C. Thomas Howell. It premieres Monday, August 12 at 9/8c on AMC.