Audiobooks by Philip Kan Gotanda

The Japanese American Civil Liberties Collection

L.A. Theatre Works presents four plays about the Japanese-American experience during and after World War II. This collection is sponsored in part by the California Civil Liberties Program from the California State Library. Sisters Matsumoto by Philip Kan Gotanda Stockton, California 1945. Three Japanese-American sisters return to their farm after years in an internment camp, but the once prosperous family finds it’s not easy to pick up the pieces of their former lives. Includes a post-play discussion with actor George Takei, playwright Philip Kan Gotanda, and director Tim Dang. Starring Keiko Agena, June Angela, Ron Bottitta, Kurt Kanazawa, Suzy Nakamura, Greg Watanabe, Ryun Yu. Directed by Tim Dang. Hold These Truths by Jeanne Sakata During WWII in Seattle, University of Washington student Gordon Hirabayashi fights the US government's orders to forcibly remove and incarcerate all people of Japanese ancestry on the West Coast. Includes an interview with playwright Jeanne Sakata. Starring Ryan Yu. Directed by Jessica Kubzansky. For Us All by Jeanne Sakata A team of lawyers uses a little-known legal writ to fight and overturn the conviction of Fred Korematsu, unjustly sentenced for resisting the WWII mass incarceration of all Japanese Americans on the West Coast. Includes a conversation with playwright Jeanne Sakata and four of the attorneys from the Korematsu v. United States case: Lori Bannai, Peter Irons, Dale Minami and Don Tamaki. Starring Edward Asner, Brooke Ishibashi, Tess Lina, Mike McShane, Derek Mio, Joy Osmanski, Jeanne Sakata, André Sogliuzzo, Josh Stamberg, Greg Watanabe, Paul Yen. Directed by Anna Lyse Erikson. No-No Boy by Ken Narasaki, based on the novel by John Okada This groundbreaking play follows the story of Ichiro Yamada, who tries to navigate a post-war America that wants nothing to do with him. Starring Kurt Kanazawa, Emily Kuroda, John Miyasaki, Ken Narasaki, Sharon Omi, Joy Osmanski, Sab Shimono, Greg Watanabe, Paul Yen. Directed by Anna Lyse Erikson.

Jeanne Sakata, Philip Kan Gotanda (Author), Various (Narrator)

Audiobook

Sisters Matsumoto

After the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the US government sent thousands of Japanese American citizens to detention camps. In 1945, three Japanese-American sisters return to their farm in Stockton, California, after years in an internment camp, but the once prosperous family finds it's not easy to pick up the pieces of their former lives. As the details of their deceased father's final arrangements emerge, the sisters must work together to keep their dreams alive. This recording is sponsored in part by California Civil Liberties Program from the California State Library. Includes a conversation with actor George Takei, playwright Philip Kan Gotanda, and director Tim Dang. Directed by Tim Dang. An L.A. Theatre Works full cast performance featuring: Keiko Agena as Rose Matsumoto June Angela as Grace Matsumoto Ron Bottitta as Mr. Hersham Kurt Kanazawa as Henry Suzy Nakamura as Chiz Matsumoto Greg Watanabe as Bola Ryun Yu as Hideo Sound Effects Artist, Jeff Gardner. Script Supervisor, Daniel Trostler. Production Manager, Nikki Hyde. Music Supervisor, Ronn Lipkin. Associate Artistic Director, Anna Lyse Erikson, Editor, Mitchell Lindskoog. Recording Engineer, Sound Designer and Mixer, Mark Holden for The Invisible Studios, West Hollywood. Recorded in Los Angeles before a live audience at The James Bridges Theater, UCLA, in November of 2018.

Philip Kan Gotanda (Author), Greg Watanabe, June Angela, Keiko Agena, Kurt Kanazawa, Ron Bottitta, Ryun Yu, Suzy Nakamura (Narrator)

Audiobook

Ballad of Yachiyo

The Ballad of Yachiyo is a tale of illicit passion by Guggenheim-winning playwright Philip Kan Gotanda, set in 1919 among the lush cane fields of Hawaii. Inspired by true events in the playwright’s family, The Ballad of Yachiyo follows 16-year-old Yachiyo as she reluctantly leaves her impoverished parents to live with sophisticated relatives. Her mother hopes she will learn the Japanese tea ceremony and other refinements that will help attract a wealthy husband. But as Yachiyo acquires civilized graces from her hostess, Okusan, she also struggles with a growing passion for Okusan’s handsome, dissolute husband. The Ballad of Yachiyo is a gripping story of poetic imagery by one of America’s leading contemporary playwrights. An L.A. Theatre Works full-cast performance featuring June Angela, Takayo Fischer, Dian Kobayashi, Lane Nishikawa, Sab Shimono, Greg Watanabe and Annie Yee.

Philip Kan Gotanda (Author), Various Performers (Narrator)

Audiobook