Name: Roots and Routes: A Tuesday Talk
Start: 2025-02-04T17:30:00-05:00
End: 2025-02-04T18:30:00-05:00
Location: Toledo Lucas County Public Library

Tuesday Talk: Roots and Routes
Toledo Lucas County Public Library, Main Branch
Meeting Room 2
Toledo Opera invites you to Roots and Routes, a powerful panel discussion exploring the history of Japanese emigration to the industrial Midwest and the long journey to build a home in this region. Presented as a companion to Toledo Opera’s mainstage production of South Pacific, this event seeks to tell the full story of America’s war in the South Pacific, highlighting diverse perspectives and untold narratives while connecting them to today’s pressing issues.
This event features four distinguished panelists: Hajime "Jimmy" Kishimori, Consul General of Japan in Detroit; Mary Kamidoi, a survivor of a World War II Japanese internment camp; Keiko Hahn, a World War II Japanese war bride who made her home in Lima, Ohio, and Akiko Jones, local activist, community leaders and founder of BGSU's Peace Studies program. Together, they will share their personal experiences and reflections on resilience, cultural identity, and the pursuit of belonging. The discussion will also address current challenges facing Japanese-American communities and broader issues of immigration, identity, and cultural preservation.
Join us for this thought-provoking conversation that bridges history and contemporary realities, connecting art, community, and dialogue to illuminate the enduring impact of World War II and its resonance today.