5/29/2019, 11:58 a.m
Japanese Americans from Portland and other West Coast cities are forced by the federal government onto trains for relocation to inland camps during World War II. A new performance piece explores the profound challenges the community has faced.
A new performance piece exploring the profound racism and other challenges experienced by Portland Japanese American community, and the resilience and fortitude of that same community, is open for multiple showings, Saturday, June 1 through Wednesday, June 5 at the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center, 4340 N. Interstate Ave. Through theatre, dance and music, the 90-minute performance “Gambatte: An American Legacy” is a way to raise empathy and heal the emotional legacy and the effects of racism in America. The production is presented as a part of Portland’s annual Vanport Mosaic Festival. Combining the talents of four featured artists, Chisao Hata, Heath Hyun, Ken Yoshikawa and Jenna Yokoyama, and other artists, the show explores what it means to be Asian American in today’s landscape, and the historical complexities informing identity in America.
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