Watase Media Arts Center
The award-winning Frank H. Watase Media Arts Center produces documentaries, exhibition media, and video life histories in support of JANM’s mission and work.
Third Act
Generations of artists call Robert A. Nakamura “The Godfather of Asian American film” but his son and MAC Director, Tadashi Nakamura, calls him Dad.
Nobuko Miyamoto: A Song in Movement
The story of a changing community told through one of its most beloved storytellers. Experience this new sweeping documentary that follows the life of visionary artist-activist Nobuko Miyamoto and her work that changed Asian America forever.
Featured Productions
WAKAJI MATSUMOTO—AN ARTIST IN TWO WORLDS: LOS ANGELES AND HIROSHIMA, 1917–1944
(2022 / 3 minutes each)
Sincerely Miné Okubo
(2021)
Rhythm and Rice
(2020 / 8 minutes)
Masters of Modern Design
- The Art of the Japanese American Experience
(2019 / 56 minutes) - Kay Sekimachi
(2019 / 8 minutes)
Kaiju vs Heroes
- In the Clutches of Kaiju
(2018 / 7 minutes) - Nagata 360: A Collecting Mind
(2018 / 4 minutes)
Our Man in Tokyo (The Ballad of Shin Miyata)
(2018 / 18 minutes)
About the Frank H. Watase Media Arts Center
The Frank H. Watase Media Arts Center is committed to promoting thoughtful exploration, understanding and appreciation of America’s pluralistic society through an innovative program of media documentation and preservation, production and presentation. By integrating theory and technology with community service and collaborating with peoples and institutions in diverse communities and regions, the Media Arts Center works to advance JANM’s role as a leading international institution.
Life History Interviews
Part of the Media Arts Center’s work is recording video life history interviews with second and third generation Japanese Americans, in an effort to preserve the memories of those who experienced unjust incarceration during World War II and its aftermath. The recordings are made available to family members and researchers, and for the purpose of building a collective archive at the Japanese American National Museum.
If you would like to recommend an individual for recording, please contact us at mac@janm.org.