Globally renowned composer and multi-instrumentalist Otomo Yoshihide, who grew up in Fukushima, is a vocal force on the plight of Fukushima, which faced a triple disaster: earthquake, tsunami and radiation exposure. Otomo introduces the international premiere of ASAHIZA, a documentary that focuses on the now-defunct cultural hub of Minamisoma, located 15 miles from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Otomo provided the soundtrack to this quiet yet powerful piece on the community’s irreversible loss of space, time and memory.

FILM
Fukushima: In Search of a Lost Future
Innovators Network
Film Screening + Discussion
Monday, April 20, 6:30 PM

After the screening, this loss of space, time and memory will be further explored by Otomo and Dr. Shin-Ichi Niwa in a dialogue on the mental health of citizens living in Fukushima. Dr. Niwa is Executive Administrator, Fukushima Prefectural Hospitals Office and a member of the Board of Kokoro-no-Care Nagomi (KCN), a mental health clinic in Fukushima. In partnership with the Japanese Medical Society of America, KCN is supported with a grant from Japan Society’s Japan Earthquake Relief Fund. Followed by a reception.

ASAHIZA 人間は、どこへ行く(Asahiza, Ningen wa Doko he Iku). 2013, 74 min., Blu-ray, color, directed by Hikaru Fujii. International premiere.

Tickets: $12/$9 Japan Society members, seniors & students.

http://www.japansociety.org/event/fukushima-in-search-of-a-lost-future