'Talking About Im/migration' - Japanese Dialogue

Saturday saw the first dialogue session of the Alliance’s ‘Talking About Im/migration’ project, held by the Chicago Japanese American Historical Society. The event was a great success, with over 30 guests, CJAHS members and project members coming together to discuss experiences of im/migration and ethnic identity amongst Chicago’s Japanese and Japanese-American communities. Japanese tea and sweets were served, before participants moved on to discuss a fascinating range objects they had brought to discuss - from a rice bowl to a daruma doll, books of Japanese art to‘Su Doku for Dummies’ – as well as simply sharing their stories and experiences.

The group included both Japanese citizens living in Chicago and Japanese Americans, both young and old, and the diversity resulted in interesting and thought-provoking discussion, as well as providing the CJAHS with inspiration for future programming and outreach.

Participants’ comments:

“I had an amazing time and a very insightful discussion”

“Very provocative, very interesting”

“I liked talking to people who I had never talked to about topics what we don't talk about”