The Japanese American Civil Liberties Collection

Summary

L.A. Theatre Works presents four plays about the Japanese-American experience during and after World War II.

This collection is sponsored in part by the California Civil Liberties Program from the California State Library.

Sisters Matsumoto by Philip Kan Gotanda
Stockton, California 1945. Three Japanese-American sisters return to their farm after years in an internment camp, but the once prosperous family finds it’s not easy to pick up the pieces of their former lives. Includes a post-play discussion with actor George Takei, playwright Philip Kan Gotanda, and director Tim Dang. Starring Keiko Agena, June Angela, Ron Bottitta, Kurt Kanazawa, Suzy Nakamura, Greg Watanabe, Ryun Yu. Directed by Tim Dang.

Hold These Truths by Jeanne Sakata
During WWII in Seattle, University of Washington student Gordon Hirabayashi fights the US government's orders to forcibly remove and incarcerate all people of Japanese ancestry on the West Coast. Includes an interview with playwright Jeanne Sakata. Starring Ryan Yu. Directed by Jessica Kubzansky.

For Us All by Jeanne Sakata
A team of lawyers uses a little-known legal writ to fight and overturn the conviction of Fred Korematsu, unjustly sentenced for resisting the WWII mass incarceration of all Japanese Americans on the West Coast. Includes a conversation with playwright Jeanne Sakata and four of the attorneys from the Korematsu v. United States case: Lori Bannai, Peter Irons, Dale Minami and Don Tamaki. Starring Edward Asner, Brooke Ishibashi, Tess Lina, Mike McShane, Derek Mio, Joy Osmanski, Jeanne Sakata, André Sogliuzzo, Josh Stamberg, Greg Watanabe, Paul Yen. Directed by Anna Lyse Erikson.

No-No Boy by Ken Narasaki, based on the novel by John Okada
This groundbreaking play follows the story of Ichiro Yamada, who tries to navigate a post-war America that wants nothing to do with him. Starring Kurt Kanazawa, Emily Kuroda, John Miyasaki, Ken Narasaki, Sharon Omi, Joy Osmanski, Sab Shimono, Greg Watanabe, Paul Yen. Directed by Anna Lyse Erikson.