This event is part of the Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth’s celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
In celebration of Japanese American heritage, JASDFW is sharing opportunities to watch films from the comfort of your home! These movies present stories of prominent Japanese Americans and major moments in recent Japanese American history. All fees for watching the films will go directly to the platforms listed below. To support the Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth, please visit our donation portal.
Please note the Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth is a non-partisan organization and all views expressed in the films are independent of JASDFW. Additionally, all films may be purchased by individuals for personal home viewing with family and friends only. They are not available to screen, loan, or broadcast for a group for either educational or commercial purposes.
American Pastime
A powerful story about the dramatic impact WWII had in the home-front as Japanese American families were uprooted from their every day lives and placed into internment camps in Western United States in the early 1940s. Faced with a country that now doubted their loyalty and struggling with their new situation, they turn to baseball as a way to handle their plight and find the strength to stand up for themselves becoming a true symbol of honor and pride.
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| Type: Drama, Romance |
| Year: 2007 |
| Running time: 1 hour, 47 minutes |
| Cost: $2.99 for 48-hour rental and $10.99 for purchase on Amazon Prime; $2.99 for 48-hour rental and $9.99 for purchase on YouTube; also available on Google Play, iTunes, and Vudu |
Jake Shimabukuro: Life on Four Strings
This is a compelling portrait of an inspiring and inventive musician, whose skills on the ukulele transformed previous notions of the instrument’s potential. From Los Angeles to New York to Japan, this film captures exhilarating performances, solitary life on tour, and reveals Shimabukuro’s early life and influences. Follow the ukulele virtuoso over the course of a musical season, capturing dynamic performances before sold-out crowds, intimate moments of life on the road, and visits to his native Hawaii, where he has risen from local hero to international star.
| Access at Amazon and YouTube |
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| Type: Documentary |
| Year: 2013 |
| Running time: 53 minutes |
| Cost: $3.99 for 48-hour rental on Amazon Prime (currently being offered free for a limited time); $9.99 for purchase on YouTube; also available on Google Play and iTunesu |
Norman Mineta and His Legacy: An American Story
A son of immigrants and forced into a U.S. World War II concentration camp as a child, Norman Mineta became the first Asian American mayor of a major city (San Jose, California); leading to a distinguished 20-year career in Congress; and became the first Asian American Cabinet member, serving U.S. Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. He never forgot his roots or what he and his family felt during WWII, and led the way for an apology from the U.S. government, as well as redress for Japanese Americans. On September 11, 2001, his leadership as U.S. Secretary of Transportation would ensure that what happened to Japanese Americans during WWII did not happen to any other group based on ethnicity or religion.
| Access at PBS |
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| Type: Documentary |
| Year: 2019 |
| Running time: 55 minutes |
| Cost: Free |
***Please note that this film will only be available through 5/29/2020
Patsy Mink: Ahead of the Majority
In 1965, Patsy Takemoto Mink became the first woman of color in the United States Congress. Seven years later, she ran for the U.S. presidency and was the driving force behind Title IX, the landmark legislation that transformed women’s opportunities in higher education and athletics. This documentary is a compelling portrait of an iconoclastic figure that remains seldom spotlighted in history books, this film illuminates how Mink’s daring to remain “ahead of the majority” in her beliefs enabled groundbreaking changes for the rights of the disenfranchised. A woman of the people as well as a pioneer, a patriot and an outcast, Patsy Mink’s intriguing story embodies the history, ideals and spirit of America.
| Access at Vimeo |
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| Type: Documentary |
| Year: 2008 |
| Running time: 56 minutes |
| Cost: $3.99 for 48-hour rental |
