You are invited.....

Tsukimi Kai Dos Photo Exhibit
"Nikkei Reflections: Continuing the Connection with the Nikkei Cuban Community"
Oct. 1 - Dec. 31, 2007
National Japanese American Historical Society (NJAHS)Gallery
1684 Post St. in San Francisco Japantown
415-921-5007

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The fantastic Tsukimi Kai Dos trip to Cuba brought a group of U.S. Nisei, Sansei, Yonsei (second, third and fourth generation Japanese and Okinawans) and friends to Cuban Nikkei communities in Havana, on La Isla de la Juventud and the fishing village of Surgidero de Batabano. We arrived in Cuba on Christmas Eve, 2006 and stayed for three weeks. Together with our Nikkei Cuban friends, we welcomed 2007 by celebrating Oshogatsu (Japanese New Year) with food, Japanese and Okinawan dance, taido drumming, origami and daruma making and the Okinawan Lion (Shiisaa) dance.

Tsukimi Kai is an intergenerational group of predominately Nikkei artists, performers, educators, and scholars that share a goal: to explore and celebrate the parallel histories of Japanese Cubans and Japanese Americans. We wish to reach across boundaries of history and politics to exchange, through art and dialogue, stories of our migrations from Japan and our adaptations to a new land. Central to this exchange is the performance of music, dance and ceremonies that link both communities with our common heritage. The first Tsukimi Kai trip brought 19 U.S. Nikkei and friends to Cuba to celebrate Obon in 2005.

The word "tsukimi" suggests the circumstance of people divided by distance yet appreciating the beauty of the same bright moon. Through our exchange, Japanese Americans and Japanese Cubans will forge better understanding of our divergent paths and shared culture. Hope you can join us!

* * * * SPECIAL RECEPTION * * * *
Saturday, December 15, 2007
2:00 - 5:00 pm

National Japanese American Historical Society (NJAHS) Gallery
1684 Post St., San Francisco Japantown
415-921-5007

Program starts at 2:30 pm:

* Premier of Tsukimi Kai Dos Video
* Presentations on Nikkei Participation in the Cuban Revolution and Race & Identity in Cuba
* Report Back about Disaster Response Conference in Cuba by Barbara Morita of Tsukimi Kai
* Photo and DVD sales; Refreshments

All photos in the exhibit and many more from the Tsukimi Kai Dos trip are available for purchase.
Donations are welcome to support the photo exhibit, video documentary, oral history interviews and educational programs.

Please make your tax-deductible donation checks payable to "NJAHS" and notate "Tsukimi Kai on the memo line.

You can mail donations to:
Tsukimi Kai
c/o 1154 Hopkins Street
Berkeley CA 94702

For more information contact:
skwake@comcast.net
510/524-3531