Warmly remembered by former Japanese residents is the small town of Bakersfield that served over 200 people and seasonal laborers with its 3 hotels, 7 stores that included a tofu-ya and fish market. With the closing of the Japanese Methodist Church and Buddhist Church, little is left to tell the story of its pre-war life. In 2003, students under the direction of Ken Hooper researched the local Japanese American history and invited back Nisei who were enrolled at the high school during the war, to be honored as part of the graduation ceremony.