San Jose is awash in history, but none of its neighborhoods has a richer and more diverse past than Japantown. The world premiere of Japantown Returnings seeks to capture that energy and commemorate 135 years of the neighborhood. Written by Mark Teagle and directed by Tasi Alabastro, with musical direction by Wayne Adachi, this once-in-a-lifetime performance takes audiences on a journey backward through time. It anchors itself on five pivotal moments: 1890s Heinlenville Chinatown, the forced incarceration and post-war resettlement of Japanese Americans, activism and redress efforts of the ’70s and ’80s. By combining fictionalized vignettes and musical storytelling, Japantown Returnings highlights the relevance and resilience of one of only three Japantowns left in the United States.
Sat, 2pm, Free
Wesley United Methodist Church Sanctuary, San Jose
Hope this film will have more showings … or maybe KQED will broadcast!