Part 4: Nano Omoide Time Stamp: 13min 50sec - 18min 50sec

Part 5: gravity Time Stamp: 18min 53sec - 23min 46sec

“Otto=sound : Banashi=story” is a 30 minute video of six sound-based tone poems by artist Alan Nakagawa about post-WWII preservation of culture and language of the Pasadena Buddhist Temple’s Japanese American community. “Part 5: gravity” was a performative collaboration between Alan and Yoli, created after a series of conversations about the theme of gravity as it relates to land spirits, the immigrant experience, Japanese-American history, and the imprint of ancestors and memory on a space. Yoli choreographed and performed to Alan’s sound poem in the former theatre and current basketball court of the Pasadena Buddhist Temple.

Sponsored by the City of Pasadena Department of Arts & Culture/ Pasadena Arts Commission, Side Street Projects and the Pasadena Buddhist Temple. This project was phase two of The Invisible Tea House, Alan Nakagawa’s on-going residency and artistic collaboration with the Pasadena Buddhist Temple and its community members.

Festivals/ Screening:

Pasadena’s Virtual Art Night, 2021

Cast & Crew:

Main Artist: Alan Nakagawa

Appearances: Alan Goto, Dona Mitoma, Leannie Toshima, Mark Oune, Robert “Lefty” Kikkawa, Reverend Gregory Gibbs, Kyoko Gibbs, Jose Salcedo, Lisa Omori, Marvin Inouye, Kathy Kumagai, Robert Fukumoto, Yoli (formerly known as Este Sanchez), Alan Hatakeyama, Salvador De La Torre

Music, Images, Editing: Alan Nakagawa

Nano Omoide: 9 Orphan Butsudans Cleaning Performance: Kyoko Gibbs, Yoli, Rev. Gregory Gibbs

Choreography & Movement in “gravity”: Yoli

Aerial Footage: Alan Goto