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What is Home: Japanese American Stories from Omoide

Sunday, February 26, 2023 at 4 p.m.

Poncho Forum

ABOUT THE EVENT

This unique storytelling event brings local stories to Seattle Rep through the incredible writers of the Omoide group. Inspired by the power of storytelling exemplified in Seattle Rep’s production of Ovid’s Metamorphoses, this community partner event will tell the stories of generations of Japanese Americans in the Seattle area. From immigration to incarceration to innovation, Japanese Americans have played a vital role in defining our region and shaping Washington’s culture and history. Through all the stories, we will explore different facets of what makes a “home” in the face of unique challenges and endless resilience.

The event will feature readings of memories written down by members of Omoide, poems, and In Shadows (2022) a special musical performance by composer Paul Kikuchi. This event is in partnership with the Japanese Community Center of Washington.

Net ticket proceeds go to support the publishing of the next Omoide writing collection.

ABOUT OMOIDE

To date, the Omoide (memories) team has helped dozens of people to preserve their own stories through the monthly writing workshops, publishing five Omoide books for children, containing stories from Omoide contributors, and have shared their stories with several thousand students, teachers, and members of the general public over the past 30 years.

These personal accounts of the Japanese experience in the Pacific Northwest have become a springboard for open dialog and discussions of constitutional rights, personal history and identity, immigrant experiences in the United States, generational impacts racism and discrimination, multi-cultural issues and much more.

Omoide is a program of the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Washington (JCCCW) and is led by a group of volunteers who help coach, critique and edit writing workshop participants. Omoide I was published in 1993. Currently, the group is working on and collecting stories for Omoide VI.

If you’re interested in joining the Omoide Writing Group, contributing stories, or a speaking presentation, please contact deegoto@gmail.com

The event will feature readings of memories written down by members of Omoide, poems, and a special musical performance of In Shadows, a composition written by Paul Kikuchi in collaboration with Omoide writers. Net ticket proceeds go to support the publishing of the next Omoide writing collection.

Omoide

Author Bios

Paul Kikuchi

Dolly Tokunaga

Lori Matsukawa

Joe Abo

Nanako Water 水島奈々子

Dee Goto

Kirin Lancaster

Stephen Sumida

Louise Takahara Matsumoto

Kenji Onishi

Nancy Ishii Martos

Jay & Rakuko Rubin

Carolee Okamoto

In Shadows: A special musical performance

By Paul Kikuchi and the Omoide Project
Sanshin arrangements by Mako Williett

Commissioned by the Seattle Symphony as part of the Executive Order 9066 Community Composition Project.

The performance of In the Shadows is made possible by the Seattle Office of Arts and Culture.

In Shadows

Ensemble

Tricia Wu

Trevor Ford

Mako Willett

Ha-Yang Kim

Alina To

Stanley N. Shikuma

In Partnership

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