Shows & Events
Nobuko Miyamoto: A Song in Movement

Past Event

Feb 22

1:30 PM | 5:30 PM Nobuko Miyamoto: A Song in Movement

A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE EVENT
Tadashi Nakamura, Quyên Nguyen-Le, Co-Directors

“I sing to open space for more songs, more stories – to reveal our humanity, our interconnected-ness, and to touch the soul as only a song can do.”

— Nobuko Miyamoto

In Partnership with:

Co-Presented by:

This screening is presented in recognition of Day of Remembrance which marks 83 years of racial reckoning since the signing of Executive Order 9066 that led to the wrongful incarceration of 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II.

Nobuko Miyamoto: A Song in Movement is a sweeping documentary that follows the life of 84-year-old artist-activist Nobuko Miyamoto and her work that changed Asian America forever.

After decades of groundbreaking cultural work that unites communities and sets the bar for Asian American storytelling, Miyamoto reflects on a life that has bridged coasts, industries, families, and history. Featuring rare archival footage, NOBUKO MIYAMOTO: A SONG IN MOVEMENT is a story of a changing community told through the singular life of one of its most beloved storytellers.

This special presentation features a live musical introduction by Nobuko Miyamoto for 1:30pm screening.

Info

Venue

Bright Family Screening Room (BFSR)
559 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111

Dates

Feb 22, 2025

1:30pm | 5:30pm

Q&A

Q&A follows 1:30 pm screening. Please join us for a reception after the discussion.

Details

55 min

Free Screening

At this time, the 1:30 screening may appear as SOLD OUT, however, we recommend that you continue checking back as tickets may be in flux and seating may become available at a later time.

Get Tickets

Artists

Nobuko Miyamoto, Artist/Activist

NOBUKO MIYAMOTO uses the art of song, dance and theater to give voice to the Asian American experience and build solidarity beyond cultural boundaries. A child of Japanese WWII relocation, dance was a means of expression leading to a career on Broadway and in films. Drawn into the movements of the 1970’s exposed her to art as a force for liberation. With Chris Iijim and Charlie Chin she created one of the first albums of Asian American song, A GRAIN OF SAND (1973,Paredon Records). In1978 she founded arts organization Great Leap. As a community-based artist she continues to create, collaborate and produce art that addresses social justice. Her creation of new song/dances in the Buddhist tradition of Obon, danced by thousands yearly, has led to the creation of FANDANGOBON – Eco-Arts Festival, building community by sharing participatory music and dance from Latinx, Asian, African and Muslim traditions. In 2021, her album 120,000 STORIES (Smithsonian Folkways) and memoir NOT YO’ BUTTERFLY (UC Press) were published. She is the subject of the 2024 PBS So Cal documentary: Nobuko Miyamoto: A SONG IN MOVEMENT. For info: www.nobukomiyamoto.org

Derek Nakamoto, Composer

DEREK NAKAMOTO’s distinguished career as a Record Producer & Composer spans over 45 years bridging diverse musical genres. Notable works include co-writing Hiroshima’s signature song, “Thousand Cranes,” producing Teddy Pendergrass’ comeback album TRULY BLESSED and acclaimed album NICKY HOLLAND (Epic). He’s arranged for Michael Bolton, The O’Jays, and collaborated with Keiko Matsui on over 23 albums. Working with international artists, he’s produced MORISSA KOMORISA with Yoko Fujimoto vocalist with KODO and Angolan Legend Waldemar Bastos CLASSICS OF MY SOUL featuring the London Symphonic Orchestra. His film scoring includes: AN AMERICAN STORY: NORMAN MINETA AND HIS LEGACY, 100 YEARS FROM MISSISSIPPI, Anime Films for Japanese Artist MARTH with the CNSO and NOBUKO MIYAMOTO: A SONG IN MOVEMENT, as well as Nobuko’s recent album 120,000 STORIES (Smithsonian Folkways). Nakamoto has just released his own solo album, “IS TODAY THE DAY?” www.dereknakamoto.com for more information.

Tadashi Nakamura, Co-Director

TADASHI NAKAMURA is an Emmy-award winning filmmaker and the Director of the Watase Media Arts Center, a production company of the Japanese American National Museum. Tadashi was named CNN’s “Young People Who Rock” for being the youngest filmmaker at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. Now with over 20 years of filmmaking experience, his films include MELE MURALS (2016), JAKE SHIMABUKURO: LIFE ON FOUR STRINGS (2013), A SONG FOR OURSELVES (2009), and PILGRIMAGE (2006). He is currently working on THIRD ACT, about his pioneering filmmaker father, Robert A. Nakamura, and his current battle with Parkinson’s Disease.

Tadashi has an M.A. in Social Documentation from UC Santa Cruz and a B.A. in Asian American Studies from UCLA. He made the DOC NYC ‘40 Under 40’ list in 2019 and was a 2020-2022 Firelight Media Documentary Lab Fellows and a 2022-2023 Sundance Asian American Fellow. He is currently a mentor for the 2024 CAAM Fellowship and recipient of the 2024 Rockwood Documentary Leaders Fellowship.

Quyén Nguyen-Le, Co-Director

QUYEN NGUYEN-LE (they/them) is a daytime emmy nominated queer vietnamese filmmaker born to refugee parents where Chumash and Tongva lands meet (San Fernando Valley, Los Ángeles). Quyên’s film work focuses on the ways histories are deeply felt in the quotidian everyday.

Quyên’s work has been supported by Kartemquin Films, Points North Institute, Center for Asian American Media, the National Multicultural Alliance’s Producer Lab, Visual Communications, and the California Arts Council.

Join the Discussion

Q&A follows 1:30 pm screening. Please join us for a reception after the discussion.

: Nobuko Miyamoto, Artist/Activist

: Erika Uyterhoeven, State Representative, MA

: Kenneth Oye, NEJACL President; Moderator

Partners

The New England Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League (NEJACL) was founded in 1948 to support civil rights initiatives related to the claims of incarcerated Japanese Americans. After a hiatus, the chapter was reactivated in 1979 to respond to the unique needs of a widespread Japanese American community in New England. Today, the NEJACL holds regular events related to Asian American civil rights activism and the sustaining of Japanese American culture in the region.

New England’s Largest Asian American Film Festival
The Boston Asian American Film Festival (BAAFF) empowers Asian Americans through film by showcasing Asian American experiences and serving as a resource to filmmakers and the Greater Boston Community. BAAFF is a co-production of Asian American Resource Workshop and ArtsEmerson.

The Asian Community Fund (ACF) at the Boston Foundation is the first and only philanthropic fund in Massachusetts dedicated to activating, convening, and supporting the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Launched in 2020, ACF is a permanent resource designed to galvanize and unite the diverse ethnicities within the AAPI community, incubate new partnerships, and build a stronger advocacy voice.

Feb 22

1:30 PM | 5:30 PM Nobuko Miyamoto: A Song in Movement

— Nobuko Miyamoto

In Partnership with:

Co-Presented by:

In Partnership with:

Co-Presented by:

Info

Venue

Dates

Feb 22, 2025

1:30pm | 5:30pm

Q&A

Details

55 min

Free Screening

At this time, the 1:30 screening may appear as SOLD OUT, however, we recommend that you continue checking back as tickets may be in flux and seating may become available at a later time.

Get Tickets

Artists

Nobuko Miyamoto, Artist/Activist

Derek Nakamoto, Composer

Tadashi Nakamura, Co-Director

Quyén Nguyen-Le, Co-Director

Join the Discussion

Partners

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Feb 22

1:30 PM | 5:30 PM Nobuko Miyamoto: A Song in Movement

— Nobuko MiyamotoIn Partnership with:Co-Presented by:

In Partnership with:

Co-Presented by:

Info

Venue

Dates

Feb 22, 2025

1:30pm | 5:30pm

Q&A

Details

55 min

Free Screening

At this time, the 1:30 screening may appear as SOLD OUT, however, we recommend that you continue checking back as tickets may be in flux and seating may become available at a later time. Get Tickets

Artists

Nobuko Miyamoto, Artist/Activist

Derek Nakamoto, Composer

Tadashi Nakamura, Co-Director

Quyén Nguyen-Le, Co-Director

Join the Discussion

Partners

— Nobuko Miyamoto

In Partnership with:

Co-Presented by:

At this time, the 1:30 screening may appear as SOLD OUT, however, we recommend that you continue checking back as tickets may be in flux and seating may become available at a later time.

Get Tickets