The following films will be shown during the 2019 JACL National Convention.
Daytime Screenings
July 31 1 p.m.
‘Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony for Nisei Veterans’ (60 mins.)
This program is a recording by C-SPAN of the Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony, held on Nov. 2, 2011, that honored Japanese American veterans of the 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team and the Military Intelligence Service during World War II.
July 31 2:15 p.m.
‘An American Story, History of California’s Nisei Veterans’ (20 mins.)
During World War II, Japanese Americans served the United States military only in segregated units. The Nisei soldiers of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team earned seven Presidential Unit Citations and more than 9,000 purple hearts. The Military Intelligence Service worked with Allied Forces in the Pacific. They are credited with helping to shorten the war.
July 31 2:45 p.m.
‘National Japanese American Memorial Site to Patriotism’ (20 mins.)
This film visits the site of the National Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism and tells some of the stories of Japanese Americans during World War II.
July 31, 3:15 p.m.
‘A Flicker in Eternity’ (25 mins.)
“A Flicker in Eternity”
This film is based on the diary and letters of Stanley Hayami, who joined the 442nd Regimental Combat Team in the U.S. Army during WWII and subsequently lost his life fighting for his country. (At press time, Producer/Director Sharon Yamato might be in attendance.)
Aug. 1 9 a.m.
‘Transcending, The Wat Misaka Story’ (90 mins.)
“Transcending”
This is the story of Wat Misaka, who became the first nonwhite person to play in what is now known as the National Basketball Assn. This film also highlights the Japanese American experience during World War II.
Aug. 1 10:30 a.m.
‘Nisei Bowling’ (22 mins.)
“Nisei Bowling”
This film, by Alli Nakamura, is about a Nisei bowling group in Salt Lake City comprised of mostly Japanese American senior citizens. The film also covers some of the history of the Japanese American community and the JACL as it relates to bowling.
Aug. 1 1:30 p.m.
‘Never Forget’ (60 mins.)
This film documents the Japanese American Nisei soldier’s story of the 100th/442nd Regimental Combat Team and the Military Intelligence Service of World War II. Interviews were conducted with San Diego Nisei veterans and their families, as well as family members of veterans who have passed on.
Aug. 3 8 a.m.
‘Recognition and Reconciliation Ceremony’ (65 mins.)
This film documents the JACL ceremony to apologize to the Resisters of Conscience of World War II. The ceremony was held on May 11, 2002, in San Francisco, Calif. This film also contains portions of the apology talk given by Floyd Mori (JACL National President), as well as talks by John Tateishi (JACL National Executive Director/CEO), Congressman Mike Honda, Frank Emi and others.
Aug. 3 9:15 a.m.
‘My Face Was My Crime’ (35 mins.)
This documentary film is about the Tule Lake Segregation Center, which was open from April 23, 1942-March 29, 1946. Tule Lake was the largest and most infamous of the camps because in July 1943, Tule Lake became the Segregation Center.
Evening Screenings
Aug. 1 7 p.m.
‘Never Give Up: Min Yasui and the Fight for Justice’
“Never Give Up”
This one-hour film will be followed by a Q & A with Holly Yasui, Min Yasui’s daughter, and Peggy Nagae, the lead attorney in Min’s case. Attorney Min Yasui purposely broke the curfew placed upon Japanese Americans during WWII in order to test the constitutionality of the ruling. He subsequently spent his life working for civil rights.
Aug. 1 8:45 p.m.
‘Norman Mineta and His Legacy: An American Story’
Dianne Fukami, Norman Mineta, Debra Nakatomi
The story of the life and career of Sec. Norman Y. Mineta is captured in this film, which has been shown on PBS. (At press time, Sec. Mineta and producers Dianne Fukami and Debra Nakatomi (pictured) are expected to be in attendance.)
Aug. 2 7 p.m.
‘Our Lost Years’
“Our Lost Years”
This new documentary film by Lane Nishikawa is about the incarceration of 120,000 persons of Japanese heritage during WWII. Nishikawa will be on hand to sell DVDs that will benefit the San Diego JACL chapter.
Aug. 2 8:45 p.m.
‘Only the Brave’
This film is about the Japanese American 100th/442nd Regimental Combat Team, which was ordered to rescue the “Lost Battalion” from Texas. The unit suffered 800 casualties while rescuing 211 Texans.
