New "Jive Bomber" Cast Learns Real History From Japanese American National Museum Volunteers

In preparing for the new production of the critically-acclaimed musical A Jive Bomber’s Christmas set for shows at the Japanese American National Museum on December 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, and 17, the show’s creators wanted their new cast to have a clear understanding of the characters they would be portraying in this play located in a World War II U.S. concentration camp where thousands of Japanese Americans were unconstitutionally incarcerated.

So co-writers and co-directors Dom and Saachiko Magwili went right to the source: volunteers at the National Museum, many who were forced to live in these camps by the United States government. The new cast, including Kurt Kuniyoshi, Kat Nakano, Myra Cris Ocenar, Kelly Miyashiro, Ritchie Santos, Casey Kono, Mike Palma, and Aaron Takahashi, were given the opportunity to take part in a dinner meeting with long-time National Museum volunteers. Those volunteers—Mas Matsumoto, Bill Shishima, Tootsie Yoshimura, and Jim Makino—not only recounted their personal experiences during the war, they answered questions from the actors. The evening, arranged by National Museum staff member Cayleen Nakamura, concluded with a tour of the National Museum and its historical exhibitions.

The Magwilis were pleased. Having conceived of the show seven years ago, they knew that A Jive Bomber’s Christmas could be both an entertaining musical with original songs and period tunes and an educational experience as well. The story concerns a group of inmates trying to counter the despair of living in camp and their own political differences by holding a holiday show. To authenticate the production, the Magwilis knew that educating their new cast, who were all born after World War II, was the first big step.

“The meeting with the volunteers added a new dimension,” observed Kurt Kuniyoshi, who plays Jackson Omata, the play’s Jive Bomber. “The people in the past became very real. The tour was like the show. It’s a history lesson that many of the younger generation don’t know. They don’t know the details. The living conditions, the lack of media.”

Kuniyoshi has had a long-standing relationship with the show, having worked as a lighting technician for the play. He noted, “I’ve been to all the rehearsals in the past and never got tired of it. It has good moments. It has sad moments. It has all these emotions. It is an honor to be asked to be in the show.”

Like a lot of people, Myra Cris Ocenar, who plays Keiko Arigaki, knew there were camps during World War II, but had only a vague notion about the details. Myra said that the meeting with the volunteers was “so powerful, with the tour and their sharing, but it was their attitude of grace and forgiveness for all that had happened to them that made an impact.”

“For me, it was a big eye opener,” said Kat Nakano who plays Mitzi Kagayama. “I had not seen the second floor of the Museum. I had only heard stories about camp. Then the volunteers took us upstairs where they showed us pictures, artifacts, and letters and I started to cry. Ten thousand boys signed up from Hawai`i and there was a picture of them in their leis ready to do what had to be done. I was filled with pride and joy.”

Meeting with a volunteer like Jim Makino, who served in the famed 442nd Regimental Combat Team, gave a particularly important insight to Michael Palma, who is playing the part of Hideo Aragaki, a soldier in the 442nd in the show. Palma appreciated “having the opportunity to rehearse here at the Museum. To meet with people like Jim Makino, who were not trying to be heroes, but just trying to do a job.”

“I wasn’t enlightened to what people really went through,” revealed Kelly Miyashiro, who plays Hanna. “That night after that dinner, I just cried all the way home. I heard my aunts talking about it before. One of my aunts was born in the camps. I never understood until that night.”

For Ritchie Santos, who plays Alice Nishi in the show, the dinner and tour helped her understand her character better. “I play a young Japanese American girl who is in camp,” she said, “not really knowing why she is there, but trying to live in that situation. I would get very sad walking around the Museum, but in the end, we gained a lot information and experience.”

Casey Kono found playing the part of Aki Yamada has revealed aspects of his own heritage. “Being in the show is finding out another facet of my culture, of my family,” he said. “My dad was in the 442nd. Some of my relatives were in camp. People still don’t say much about it. I admire Japanese Americans for what they’ve gone through. I want to expose that experience so that they can have pride in that, too, and for people in my community and to others so they can see injustice is done to everyone. We have to be careful of our freedom though. It’s very important to us.”

Aaron Takahashi, who plays the role of Arnold Kozai, was left with a lasting impression. “The strength of the people who were interned,” he said. “I give them so much credit for surviving. I think this production, it’s a story told through our own eyes. For the audience who aren’t Japanese Americans, it would be a revelation. For Japanese Americans, they would find it a celebration.”

A Jive Bomber’s Christmas will be performed at 7:30 p.m. on weeknights and 2 p.m. on weekends. Tickets are $12 for National Museum members, $15 for non-members, and $9 for seniors (62 and over), students, and groups of 10 or more. For more information, call the Japanese American National Museum at 213.625.0414. The Japanese American National Museum is located at 369 E. First Street, in Little Tokyo.