In Search of Peace -the Peace Movement in Japan and the U.S. September 4, 2007

The Japan Society of Northern California is proud to present an intriguing and thought-provoking discussion about the history, evolution and future of the peace movement in Japan and how it compares to the peace movement in the U.S. A two-part series, "In Search of Peace" will begin with a screening of Takeharu Watai's "Little Birds," an award-winning documentary about the Iraq war, introduced by Mr. Watai himself on Tuesday, September 4th. Part Two, a panel discussion focusing on the comparative history and evolution of the peace movements in Japan and the U.S., will take place on Wednesday, September 5th.

Panelists:
Wesley Sasaki-Uemura: Associate Professor, Asian Studies Program, University of Utah
Dr. Sasaki-Uemura's research focuses on the social and intellectual history of postwar Japan, including his 2006 Fulbright research project entitled "The Art of Protest in 1960s and 1970s Japan." He is the author of: "Organizing the Spontaneous: Citizen Protest in Postwar Japan." (2001)

Stephen Zunes: Professor: Politics and International Studies, University of San Francisco
Dr. Zunes has been at USF since 1995, teaching courses on nonviolence, conflict resolution, Middle Eastern and African politics, and globalization, and chaired Politics Department Peace & Justice Studies minor from 1998 to 2005.

Takeharu Watai: Journalist and Documentary Filmmaker
Born in Osaka in 1971, Takeharu Watai has worked with Asia Press International, a news agency for independent video journalists, since 1998. His film "Little Birds" about the daily lives of Iraqi people after the US-invasion, won the Human Rights Award at the 2005 Locarno International Film Festival and the 2005 Japan Conference of Journalists award.

Generously co-sponsored by the USF Center for the Pacific Rim.

About Japan Society of Northern California:
The Japan Society of Northern California is the West Coast's leading forum on Japan and US-Japan relations. Its mission is to strengthen cooperation and understanding between the peoples of the United States and Japan by providing programs that help to expand knowledge, increase personal interaction and facilitate discussion of important issues.

Official Website: http://www.usajapan.org/