Toledo Opera will host Roots and Routes: A
Tuesday Talk on Tuesday, February 4, at 5:30 p.m., at the Toledo Lucas County Public Library, 325 North Michigan Street, Toledo, meeting room 2. The panel discussion will explore the history of Japanese emigration to the industrial midwest and the long journey to build a home in this region. It is free and open to the public.
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 issues.
The event features four 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, educator, community leader and founder of Bowling Green State University’s Peace and Conflict Studies program. Together, they will share their personal experiences and reflections on resilience, cultural identity and the pursuit of belonging. The discussion also will address current challenges facing Japanese-American communities and broader issues of immigration, identity and cultural preservation.
The conversation aims to bridge history and contemporary realities, connecting art, community and dialogue to illuminate the enduring impact of World War II and its resonance today. The discussion will include a free preview, as well as the opportunity to win a pair of tickets to the opening night of South Pacific.
For opera general director, James Norman, the upcoming Tuesday Talk, Roots and Route, represents an opportunity to deepen the community’s understanding of history through diverse perspectives: “We believe that the power of opera lies in its ability to connect us–to history, to each other and to the world around us. We are thrilled to engage our community through this timeless story of love, resilience and cultural understanding. We aim to spark conversations and foster connections that resonate far beyond the stage.”
“We’re incredibly grateful to Ohio Humanities for supporting this project and helping us share these important stories” shared Toledo Opera development officer Leah Whitaker. “Toledo Opera wanted to make sure it wasn’t just telling one side of history. Roots and Routes gives audiences the chance to hear other perspectives directly from those who lived through World War II, especially members of the Japanese community, whose stories are often overlooked. Understanding history means listening to multiple voices, and by sharing these firsthand experiences, we can explore the complexities of this era with honesty, depth and empathy.”
