Pauline Adamek
Announcing a One-Day-ONLY performance of AFTERNOON OF PEACE, a multi-media live event that tells the story of the atom bomb survivors — known as Hibakusha — of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It is a tale of devastation, resilience and hope for the future told through song (classical and jazz), dance (modern and traditional), photography, current and historical moving images and the spoken word of the Hibakusha themselves.
PICTURED ABOVE:
Photo of mushroom cloud: Courtesy of NARA.
Photo of young girl with fan: Courtesy of The Rafu Shimpo.
Photo by Mikey Hirano Culross, September 23, 2017.
Rafu Shimpo, the nation’s leading Japanese American newspaper has hailed AFTERNOON OF PEACE as “…an artistic prayer radiating hope to learn from history and not repeat the tragedies of the past.”
The single performance of AFTERNOON OF PEACE is on February 22, 2020, at 2pm. It will be held in Little Tokyo at the Aratani Theatre. This event is presented by Shadows for Peace and the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center.
75 years later, Afternoon of Peace tells the story of the Hibakusha (survivors) of Hiroshima and Nagasaki through song, dance, moving image and their own spoken word. It is a tale of devastation, resilience and hope for the future. This performance is dedicated to the memory of Richard Yukata Fukuhara, founder of Shadows for Peace.
Aratani Theatre
244 S. San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Schedule:
12:15 PM Irei Sai (Pre-show Shinto Blessing)
2:00 PM Aratani Theatre Performance
$30 Orchestra Reserved | JACCC Members $25 | Senior/Student $25
Groups 10+ | $25 per ticket. For Group Orders, please call the Box Office at 213-680-3700.
All Sales Final. No Refunds, No Exchanges.
Tickets are available now. For ticketing and other information visit www.JACCC.org/AOP or Aratani Theatre box-office at 213-680-3700.
“Our goal in staging AFTERNOON OF PEACE is to help educate the public, and students in particular, about the devastating effects of atomic bombs and giving voice to the Hibakusha of Hiroshima and Nagasaki is a very direct and personal way to do it.”
Robert Horsting, President of Shadows for Peace.
“It’s been many decades since the atomic bombings and there’s a vital question that we all need to ponder — ‘in the past 75 years, is it only the bombs that have gotten smarter?’”
Alison De La Cruz, Vice President of Programs at Japanese American Cultural and Community Center.
Dr. Maya Soetoro-Ng, the peace and conflict resolution educator will serve as Honorary Chair of AFTERNOON OF PEACE. This performance is dedicated to the memory of Richard Yukata Fukuhara, founder of Shadows for Peace and to honor the Hibakusha, whose resilience, love of life and message of peace inspire us all.
About Shadows for Peace:
Richard Yutaka Fukuhara conceived and started developing Shadows for Peace in 2010. In 2013, Richard was joined by the award-winning documentary filmmaker and Oral Historian, Robert M. Horsting to broaden the concept through their collaboration. They started video recording the Hibakusha and produced a series of “Shadows for Peace” forums, featuring various Hibakusha presenters, videos and art works thanks to the generous support from the Orange Coast Optimists. The catalyst for “Afternoon of Peace” grew from a dream Richard had, envisioning the depiction of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima through the medium of modern dance. The resulting commissioned dance is a centerpiece of this production. “Shadows for Peace” forums have been presented to Chapman University, the Japanese American National Museum’s Tateuchi Center For Democracy, Loara High School, San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center, California State University Fullerton, the Katy Geissert Civic Library in Torrance, Santa Ana Middle College High School, Long Beach Japanese Cultural Center, Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute, Glendale Downtown Central Library, and the Terasaki Nibei Foundation.
About Japanese American Cultural & Community Center:
Founded in 1971, JACCC is one of the largest ethnic arts and cultural centers of its kind in the United States. Serving as the hub for Japanese and Japanese American arts and culture, and a community gathering place for the diverse voices it inspires—JACCC connects traditional and contemporary; community participants and creative professionals; Southern California and the world beyond. Its facilities include the Center Building (which houses the George J. Doizaki Gallery, the Japanese Cultural Room and Teahouse, classrooms, and office space for nonprofit organizations), the 880-seat Aratani Theatre, the Isamu Noguchi-designed Sculpture and Plaza, and the award-winning James Irvine Japanese Garden. JACCC occupies a unique place in the Los Angeles arts and cultural ecosystem as one of the largest arts and cultural organizations of color in the country while still serving local and regional artists and cultural organizations that use JACCC’s campus for meetings, gatherings, and cultural events.
AFTERNOON OF PEACE is presented by Shadows for Peace and Japanese American Cultural & Community Center and sponsored in part by: Aratani Foundation, Gonsaku & Mine Ito Family, Orange Coast Optimist Club, Mike E. Vaughn Law Offices, Fukui Mortuary, Inc., Richard & Masako Murakami, Nanka Yamaguchi Kenjinkai and John S. Gong. The Aratani Theatre is supported in part by George, Ruri, Lisa & Nathan Sugimoto, Aratani Foundation, The Ahmanson Foundation, Henry Ota in memory of Sue and Harry Ota, Akira Uehara, Folick Family, Kawaguchi-Kihara Memorial Foundation, Los Angeles Board of Supervisors through the LA County Arts Commission, Hitachi Ltd., Kajima Corporation, and Kensuke Hotta. Significant in-kind support is provided by American Airlines, Ushio America, Inc., Hoshizaki, NEC Display Solutions, and Bose Professional.
Dr. Maya Soetoro-Ng, Honorary Chair.
