Omoiyari: a Songfilm by Kishi Bashi

Presented by the Portland Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) and the Japanese American Museum of Oregon (JAMO). Panel discussion to follow the film screening.

Violinist and songwriter Kaoru Ishibashi travels on a musical journey to understand WWII era Japanese Incarceration, assimilation, and what it means to be a minority in America today.

When a media interview links the muslim ban and the immigration crisis at the USA-Mexico border with the incarceration of Japanese-Americans during WWII, Ishibashi goes on a journey to learn about this history and its relevance. Along the way, he improvises and writes music in an effort to better understand his own identity as a bi-cultural American. Using never before seen archival footage from the camps, mixed with breathtaking visual storytelling, Kaoru weaves a story using history, music and current events to create a portrait of America from the perspective of someone caught between two worlds.

Portland JACL members should contact [email protected] to receive a free attendance code.