The Center is pleased to bring director Darren Haruo Rae to Japantown for a community screening of the new short film Nisei, now an official selection for the Academy Award® Qualifying Indy Shorts International Film Festival! Produced by Roann Films in association with Spartan Film Studios and starring yonsei actors Jonathan Tanigaki and Brent Yoshida,  the 20 minute short film will be followed by Q&A with the director and cast members.

Inspired by stories from the director’s grandfather, Nisei follows the journey of two Japanese-American brothers during World War II, Minoru and John Miyasaki. Stripped of their citizenship and placed in internment camps, they volunteer for the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, an all Japanese-American unit that sacrificed everything, to prove their loyalty to a country that doesn’t want them. Torn between country and family, they must face the enemy overseas along with adversity back home.

‘”Nisei” is a project I hold dear to my heart. As a kid, I would listen to stories from my grandparents about the struggles and heartbreaks of the internment camps. I was always inspired by my grandfather’s stories. It wasn’t just the fact that they were imprisoned and abused, it was the acts of selflessness and sacrifice the entire Japanese-American community went through. He knew he was American and it was his duty to fight for his country, even if it turned its back on him. An entire generation went through one of the most horrifying times in human history and this must not be forgotten. My grandfather’s story isn’t just about him, it’s about the entire community. It is about how history repeats itself unless we learn from our mistakes. It is about remembering why we fight and why we should never give up.’ – Director Darren Haruo Rae