PR 9/10/04

Press Release 9/10/04

Poets and Songwriters Inspired by the Manzanar Pilgrimage and Other Camps Perform at the Japanese American National Museum.

A diverse group of poets and musicians will gather for a special performance, Saturday, September 18, at 2 p.m., at the Japanese American National Museum, featuring highlights from the Manzanar Committee’s recently published book, “Keep It Going. . . Pass It On.”

Among the musical artists to perform are lead vocalist and songwriter Lee Takasugi of Visiting Violette, and well-known composer/arranger Dave Iwataki who will preview his newly-produced CD, “Barbed Wire and Hip-Hop.”

Playwright and poet Hiroshi Kashiwagi, a Nisei writer who delighted audiences with his mixture of humor and real life issues at the Tule Lake Pilgrimage, makes a rare Southern California appearance to read from his soon-to-be-published book of poetry, “Swimming in the American: Memoirs and Collected Writings.”

Also featured from San Francisco is spoken word artist Yukiya Jerry Waki reading a piece performed at the Manzanar After Dark program in 2001 and 2004. traci kato-kiriyama, along with members of Zero 3, will perform “Black Hair,” a piece written about 9/11, which was performed at the 2002 pilgrimage.

The program will also spotlight cross-generational works that are both old and new: Nisei community activist Jim Matsuoka will read from a poem he performed at the first Manzanar Pilgrimage in 1969. The untitled piece received widespread criticism at the time for the outspoken attack on those who “spoke not, who objected not, who will not rock the boat in order to be model citizens.” Dave Iwataki will present a talented young Los Angeles artist with a passion for rap, Kyle Toyama, whose original piece “Nine O Double Six” was written to soundtrack music composed and performed by Iwataki. Japan-born rap artist Miwa “Lyric” Kayama rounds out the program which offers something for both old and young.

“Keep It Going. . . Pass It On: Poetry Inspired by the Manzanar Pilgrimage” was published to commemorate the 35th annual Manzanar Pilgrimage this year. The multiethnic, multigenerational compilation features 23 individual contributors, with topics ranging from the impact of camp to racial profiling following the September 11 terrorist attacks.

The title of the anthology was inspired by two group pieces that emerged spontaneously at the Manzanar After Dark programs, where students, former camp internees, and the general public contributed one line on a piece of paper to “keep the memory going” and “to pass it on” to the next generation. Manzanar After Dark began in 1997 as an evening program designed to engage young people to learn about the camp experience from former internees. It has since expanded to a full weekend of activities surrounding the annual Manzanar Pilgrimage, featuring intergenerational discussion groups, an open mike, as well as cultural performances and video presentations.

The book also features such award-winning writers as Lawson Fusao Inada, Al Robles and Tony Robles; and performers Nobuko Miyamoto and Lane Nishikawa.

Proceeds from the sale of the book, funded in part by the California Civil Liberties Public Education Program and the Japanese American Community Services of Southern California, will support the educational programs of The Manzanar Committee. Copies are available at the Japanese American National Museum or by mail order to P.O. Box 9849, Marina del Rey, CA 90295. The anthology is $10 per copy. Shipping and handling is $3.00 for the first copy and $1.00 for each additional copy if shipped to the same address.

For reservations for the event on September 18, please call the Japanese American National Museum at (213) 625-0414.