EVENT: Film screening of documentary “The Cats of Mirikitani” and discussion afterwards
WHERE: Aoyama Gakuin University; Bulding 17, 6th Floor, Honda Memorial Auditorium
GUEST SPEAKER: Mr. Masa Yoshikawa (Producer of the film)
WHEN: June 28, 2016 — Periods 5 & 6: 16:50 to 20:00
The documentary film, “The Cats of Mirikitani,” will be screened and its producer, Masa Yoshikawa, will give a brief talk and answer questions about it. The film tells the remarkable story of a Japanese American man, who was born in California, brought up in Hiroshima, and returned to America to study art just before the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The story describes his internment in a relocation camp for Japanese, and his release to an America that he felt had betrayed him.
Finding himself living on the street in New York City, he sold his beautiful drawings (mostly of cats) in order to survive. When the terrorist attacks struck New York on 9/11 he was taken in by a woman who would later direct the documentary about his fascinating life. The film tells a story that is tragic, humorous, inspirational, charming, and thought-provoking.
Here is a flyer that promotes the event in Japanese: Announcement in Japanese
Awards won by the film:
- Audience Award at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival
- Best Picture Award in the Japanese Eyes section of the 2006 Tokyo International Film Festival
- Audience award at the 2007 Lyon Film festival (Lyfe / Hors-Ecran)
