Mizuko

"Mizuko: True Spirit" is an epic American-immigrant tale of hardship, assimilation, and the eventual triumph that ensued. When the Takahashi's, one of the wealthiest families in western Japan lost their great fortune in 1900, five-year old Mizuko Takahashi went from riches to rags. Mizuko's lifetime in Japan and America offers the reader an intimate look into the world of an Asian immigrant. This book is the story of one woman's efforts to surmount racism, sexism, and poverty in the 20th century. Featured is a riveting accounting of the matriarch's life in Manzanar Concentration Camp for three years beginning in 1942. "Mizuko: True Spirit" is required reading for anyone who needs/wants a fuller understanding of the history of minority women in America, the reality of immigrant life, and the unjust incarceration of Japanese people in America during World War II. Family genealogists will be inspired by the detailed descriptions of her and her family in this multi-generational saga. Written in an accessible style for everyone 12 and older, Mizuko's sixty-five years in America presents a rousing and historically important piece of America's past. This book is of interest to those interested in the following: History, Immigration and Immigrant Lives, Women's Issues, Biography, Racism, WWII American Internment Camps, Japanese American History.

"Mizuko: True Spirit" is an epic American-immigrant tale of hardship, assimilation, and the eventual triumph that ensued. When the Takahashi's, one of the wealthiest families in western Japan lost their great fortune in 1900, five-year old Mizuko Takahashi went from riches to rags. Mizuko's lifetime in Japan and America offers the reader an intimate look into the world of an Asian immigrant. This book is the story of one woman's efforts to surmount racism, sexism, and poverty in the 20th century. Featured is a riveting accounting of the matriarch's life in Manzanar Concentration Camp for three years beginning in 1942. "Mizuko: True Spirit" is required reading for anyone who needs/wants a fuller understanding of the history of minority women in America, the reality of immigrant life, and the unjust incarceration of Japanese people in America during World War II. Family genealogists will be inspired by the detailed descriptions of her and her family in this multi-generational saga. Written in an accessible style for everyone 12 and older, Mizuko's sixty-five years in America presents a rousing and historically important piece of America's past. This book is of interest to those interested in the following: History, Immigration and Immigrant Lives, Women's Issues, Biography, Racism, WWII American Internment Camps, Japanese American History. The book is divided into four parts or 'seasons'. 'Spring' describes Mizuko's birth in Japan (in 1895) and voyage to America in 1911. 'Summer' recounts Mizuko's married and widowed life in America from 1911 to 1941. 'Fall' finds Mizuko taken prisoner and details her life in Manzanar Concentration Camp during WWII. 'Winter' finishes the story, spanning from 1945 until Mizuko's death in 1986. Learn of the Japanese celebration of Girl's Day, what it was like to work as a man on the Pacific railways in the early 1900s, and how a 'Loyalty Oath' in Manzanar threatened to split incarcerated Japanese families apart.

Art Nomura creates media of all forms including installations, single channel films and videos, paintings, architecture, earthworks, and prose. While teaching film, television, and video production at LMU from 1990-2016, he directed and produced several documentaries about the Japanese American and minority experience, including the music video ‭Wok Like A Man‭ ‬‬(1987), a portrait of Korean artist Sonia Hahn, ‭Fire and Ashes (1989),‬ ‭an exploration of race and racism, Getting Along‭ (1992), about ‬the desire to become the first Asian American cowboy, Buckaroo Boy‭ (1996), ‬and a look at Japanese Americans who have made the choice to live in Japan for the long-term, Fulbright-sponsored Finding‬ Home‭ (2006). In 1991 he co-wrote and produced the first American TV Pilot featuring a cast of Asian Americans, ‬Lotusland‭. Multi-channel installation work includes: ‭What Goes Around Comes ‬‬Around‭ (2007), Corridor (2009), Watching (2011), and Lei-a: Before and After [saudade] (2012). He completed an extensive, interactive e-book for the Apple iPad entitled ‭Standing Tall: The Extra/Ordinary Life of ‬‬Mizuko Takahashi Nomura (2015)‭. Mizuko: True Spirit evolved from that interactive work. A compilation and collection of his creative work can be experienced at www.artnomura.com. Art's work has screened on PBS and in festivals, galleries, museums, and universities worldwide. Born in Manzanar Concentration Camp, California during WWII, he is Professor Emeritus at Loyola Marymount University in ‬Film/TV Production. He continues to teach occasional courses at LMU between travels, gardening, bicycle advocacy, writing and other creative efforts.