Tadashi Nakamura ’03

By the time he reached 30, Tadashi Nakamura ’03 and his critically acclaimed films had become a driving force for the Asian American community. Depicting a history that is often left out of educational textbooks, Nakamura’s films are unique in that they share “a story of a community told by those who actually experience it.”

As a second generation filmmaker, Nakamura recalls growing up around the work of his parents – his father, Robert Nakamura M.F.A. ’75, a director and film professor at UCLA, and his mother, Karen Ishizuka, a writer and producer. But the younger Nakamura says that it was not until he was a student that he recognized for himself the power of film.

During his time at UCLA, Nakamura’s involvement with student organizations such as Concerned Asian Pacific Islander Students for Action and the Pacific Islander Education and Retention project helped develop the community-organizing skills and political foundation that continue to influence his work today. It was also here at UCLA where Nakamura learned more about the hidden history that drove the Asian American movement and about the prominent activists within the movement such as Chris Iijima.

Nakamura’s film, A Song for Ourselves, depicts the early Asian American movement. The film covers the life of Iijima, an Asian American musician and family friend from the 1970s. Through the use of archival footage, photographs and Iijima’s music, the film shares how his songs unveil the vitality of the movement, an era driven by anti-war and student activism, giving way to a new identity for Asian Americans that challenged stereotypes. Through A Song For Ourselves Nakamura celebrates the meaning behind Iijiam’s work and the purpose of art as a means to bring communities together.

“My goal as a filmmaker is to create work that inspires young people,” Nakamura explains. Through his films, he encourages the new generation “to become interested in the historic and current conditions of their community, realize their own potential to create change, and then take an active role in improving those conditions.”

By documenting the work of individuals like Iijima and their service to their community, Nakamura transforms film to illustrate how relevant education empowers communities to rediscover their own history.

Reflecting on the tremendous impact his own educational background has on his work, Nakamura shares one of the major maxims he learned as a student at UCLA. “Political analysis is essential to creating great art,” he explains, “and creativity is a necessity when fighting for social change.”

Since its premiere in 2009, A Song for Ourselves has won 12 film awards for excellence, including awards such as Best Documentary, Best Short and Audience Award from 12 different film festivals, including the Urbanworld Film Festival, Bronx Independent Film Festival and San Diego Asian Film Festival.

Nakamura is currently teaching in the EthnoCommunications Academic Program at UCLA.

To read more about Nakamura and his work, visit his website.