PODCAST: Japanese America—Season 1
Season 1
Listen to the episodes from the Japanese America podcast on your favorite podcast app!
Explore related resources to learn more about the individuals and topics covered in the episodes.
Episodes
Episode 1: Yuri Kochiyama
February 19, 2024
Discover how Yuri Kochiyama’s World War II concentration camp experiences transformed her into a civil rights icon.
Related Resources
A Heart Without Boundaries by Maya Kochiyama (2011)
Episode 2: The Karate Kid
March 18, 2024
Explore iconic scenes from the 1984 film The Karate Kid and its portrayal of Japanese culture to highlight issues of cultural representation and racism. The episode touches on the significance of Mr. Miyagi’s incarceration in a Japanese American World War II concentration camp and speculates humorous updates to the film, such as having all Asians secretly know martial arts or turning Cobra Kai into a K-pop dance troupe.
Episode 3: First Manzanar Pilgrimage
April 15, 2024
Delve into the history of the Manzanar pilgrimage, its historical significance, personal connections, and the necessity of education to prevent similar injustices.
Related Resources
Episode 4: Grandpa the Spy
May 16, 2024
“Have you ever wondered if there was a criminal in your family history?” Cohosts Michelle MaliZaki and Koji Steven Sakai uncover their own histories in this episode.
Related Resources
Episode 5: Grandpa the Renunciant
June 17, 2024
This episode combines personal stories with historical analysis, exploring themes of loyalty, cultural belonging, and the heavy consequences of choosing between nationalities.
Related Resources
Episode 6: Dear Attorney General
July 15, 2024
This episode is about Koji’s grandparents’ attempt to stay in the United States after renouncing their citizenship with the help of civil rights lawyer Wayne Collins and their friends and family.
Related Resources
Episode 7: Civil Liberties Act of 1988
August 19, 2024
Listen to this discussion of the historical significance of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, which provided reparations to Japanese Americans incarcerated during World War II.
Related Resources
Episode 8: Reviving Tradition Through Manzanar’s Historic Diamond
September 16, 2024
Explore the profound impact of baseball on the Japanese American community. Delve into the sport’s cultural significance and learn about the Manzanar Baseball Project, an initiative to revive a historic baseball diamond that once brought solace to Japanese Americans during World War II.
Related Resources
MANZANAR BASEBALL PROJECT—event on December 7, 2024
Episode 9: Giant Robot with Eric Nakamura
October 21, 2024
This episode explores the journey of Eric Nakamura, the visionary behind Giant Robot. From his rebellious beginnings as a zine creator to establishing a cultural hub that fuses Asian American identity with punk rock culture.
Related Resources
Giant Robot Biennale 5—exhibition on view through January 5, 2025
Episode 10: Honoring Nisei Heroes: David Ono on Valor, Legacy, and Cultural Reflections
November 18, 2024
David Ono, a renowned anchor from KABC-TV, joins the hosts to highlight the heroics of Japanese American Nisei veterans who displayed extraordinary bravery and patriotism during World War II.
Related Resources
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