Irei: To Console the Spirits
To honor the humanity of each Japanese American incarcerated in U.S. camps during WWII, descendants of camp survivors find solace saying aloud the names of their family members. Many religions and cultures have rituals structured around remembrance, where the mere utterance of a person’s name is significant. Calling forth those who have gone before us, we create a sonic refuge connecting the past to the present. Through the invocation of their names, they, in turn, protect us as exemplars of perseverance in the face of injustice. Using the power of our voice, the 'Voicing Refuge' initiative protects the Japanese American WWII incarceration from being excised from our national memory. And by joining our voices together, we become the monument to this history.
Nikkei Digital Media 2023 | Run Time 7 min
Producer: Kimiko Marr
Director and Editor: Megan Martinez Goltz
Camera Team: Bobby Valentine, Tyler Heydon
Audio: Megan Martinez Goltz
Upcoming Screenings:
2/22 - San Francisco, CA
2/23 - San Jose, CA
3/8 - Little Tokyo, Los Angeles
3/9 - Gardena, CA
