War Brides of Japan, a docu*memory: "The Culture" movie poster

"The Culture" is chapter 4 of 5 chapters that make up the "War Brides of Japan, a docu*memory" film series.

In “Cactus…Cranes…Cooks", war bride daughter M Fumie gives an origami demonstration from her Arizona home. Later, she prepares several Japanese meals based on her mother’s recipes. Meanwhile, daughters Michelle and Stephanie discuss their multicultural identities while fondly remembering their grandmother and their favorite Japanese foods.

In “Tamales 4 Bon Odori”, Diana recounts how her Japanese Mexican family was rejected by Japanese Americans in their community near Fresno because they were “hapa”. Yet, her mother instilled Japanese culture in her children, and they attended Obon every year. Diana’s youngest daughter, Hannah, discusses her plight of being multiracial and the impact of having never known her Japanese grandmother.

In “Bringing Japan Home”, Sophia talks about the influence her late mother had over her, how it compelled her to study the Japanese language, travel to Japan, and bring back to her Sacramento home so many Japanese souvenirs that they take up her entire house.

"War Brides of Japan, a docu*memory” features 5 chapters as indicated below:

1. “Herstory” featuring “Dekasegi” & “Japanese Brides, American Wives”

2. “The Brides” featuring “The Best Ambassador” & “Kitchens & a Priest”

3. “The Kids” featuring “The Entertainer’s Daughter”, “hafu” & “Remembering Her Mother”

4. “The Culture” featuring “Cactus…Cranes…Cooks”, “Tamales 4 Bon Odori” & “Bringing Japan Home”

5 “BFF’s: Buddhist Friends Forever” featuring “Missing Her Mom”, “Family Fortune” & “Disowned/Reclaimed”

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